She stared mindlessly at the raindrops that cracked against the window. The book rested on her lap and her mind wandered along the woods, an uneasy feeling in her chest. She felt that way every time they were apart - unsafe, that something bad would happen without him by her side. There was no way the Strigoi would break into her room since two guards were around all the time, but they weren't him. {Y/N} longed for Ashton's protective figure more than she was supposed to do. It was no longer the simple fact that he would give his life for her if things reached that point, but she longed for his presence and his presence only. Yes, he seemed to be in a bad mood eighty percent of the time and whenever they were around more people she knew he wished he could be anywhere but there, but when it was only them, it was different. He would listen to her pointless rambles about anything and a smile appeared on his lips every once in a while, making his deep dimples pop out. She had the ridiculous wish of poking his dimples whenever she has the chance to see them.
There was movement outside. A large group of Dhampirs crossed the lawn, their black clothes making a bold contrast against the green grass. She spotted a blonde ponytail hopping around and chuckled when {BFF/N} jumped on Michael's back, taking him by surprise. His girlfriend Tara was surprised as well and drifted apart laughing. She missed having them around all the time, especially {BFF/N} since she was her old protector, but after the incident about six months before, Luke had ordered to change Guardians with his sister. The Hemmings twins were the current prince and princess of the Moroi dynasty, and {Y/N} would be Queen someday by the sole fact that she was sixteen minutes older than her twin. But Luke took the task of looking after her very seriously and after a Strigoi managed to push {BFF/N} away and tackle her into the ground, he exchanged the blonde girl with his own protector, Ashton, who in that moment crossed the field and glanced at her window. He didn't smile or acknowledged her, simply locked his eyes in hers to make sure she was safe and looked away. {Y/N} sighed and crossed her legs in the opposite way, trying to not return her gaze to the curly mess contained in a red bandana wrapped around his head. Practice would be over in thirty minutes, and then Ashton would show up at her door ten minutes later to wait until she got ready before walking her to her first class and so on until dawn. It was their every day routine. The forty minutes flew by and he knocked twice before walking in. He was allowed to enter the princess' room without announcing himself, but he did it anyway out of respect. It was, after all, a lady's room.
"Come in" she sighed and closed the book on her lap. It didn't move past the page it originally opened
"Good evening" he usually gave her the silent treatment but apparently he was in a good mood that day
"Evening" {Y/N} stood up from the seat by the window and walked up to her bed while Ashton sat down on a black couch almost all the way across the room. It was kind of his spot in her bedroom, the black leather couch that was strategically placed near the door and with a perfect view of the entire place. "How was training?" Maybe she was pushing her luck by making more conversation but she was hopeful he would keep it going as she pressed a decorative pink pillow against her chest.
"It was good actually, Michael kicked Calum's ass a couple of times and- sorry" he seemed embarrassed and his expression gave it away, making her chuckle
"Sorry about saying the word 'ass'?" He nodded and she laughed "it's fine, like, really" that meant that Ashton was feeling more comfortable (or less stiff?) towards her and it was a good sign.
"Classes will start shortly. I'd recommend you get ready now" she groaned and stretched on the bed, exposing some skin from her stomach and making him look away
"I don't want to go to class today" he was already in his uniform, only the black blazer and tie were missing. Although he looked good in the uniform, {Y/N} preferred to see him in his usual dark clothes. Earlier that day he had worn a black jean vest over a muscle tee and his well-formed arms had managed to cover her face in a slight blush. He was attractive, very, and there was no way to deny that.
"Well, you have to go to class. So." She detected the change on his voice. Great. Now he was back to his mindset on her being a spoiled little princess. And maybe she was, but she wasn't a brat that deserved his disgust.
"No I don't. I don't need all these classes, they are useless. I don't need to train like you, because apparently I'm useless in the business of keeping anyone safe, starting with myself. The entire government is already divided and I don't have the power to-"
"We're leaving in ten minutes whether you're in your uniform or your pajamas" and with that ultimatum he left the room. He wouldn't stick around to hear anyone throw dirt at the princess. Not even the princess herself.
--
Ten minutes later she walked out the room to find him leaning against a wall, looking at the empty hallway. Without a sound, she started to walk towards the main entrance that lead to the commons of St. Vladimir's and lead to the classrooms. Ashton followed behind shortly, slipping in his jacket. {Y/N}’s best friend and her brother’s protector, {BFF/N}, was waiting in the entrance of the Moroi dormitories, and smiled at her as soon as the brunette girl stood into the moonlight.
"Your Highness" she took a small bow with her head only to get it smacked slightly seconds later
"Your Assness" getting mocked because of her title by her friends was something the princess was used to at this point. "Where’s Luke and T?" the blonde shrugged
"She's waiting by the feeders and he told me not to wait for him, so I guess he’s skipping classes tonight" {Y/N} glanced at Ashton but he kept a stone expression "What?"
"Nothing, let’s go" classes ran quite uneventful, just another day at St. Vladimir’s.
--
{Y/N}’s POV
I just sat in the edge of the bed staring at nothing. He had pushed me away so harshly it had actually hurt my feelings. Especially given the fact he actually kissed me back. I was afraid smoke would come out of my ears, or even worse, tears from my eyes, but I clenched my jaw and ignored the pinching feeling in my chest. The ache in my throat wasn’t because of the lack of blood but it was more of a knot. My tongue was tied and I wanted him to get out, but the thoughts refused to turn into words. He just paced the room for a while before standing next to the window, looking at the pitch black glass that showed our reflections in it because not a single image could be shown from the tinted crystal. I could feel his eyes locked on me, but I simply sat there, waiting for him to exit the room.
Only that he didn’t.
Seconds later he sat next to me. I hadn’t noticed the breath trapped inside of my lungs until after I let it out on a low sigh. His hand reached for my face and before I could slap it away, he kissed me again. It began as a shy, almost stolen kiss. He was hesitant; I could sense his lips barely caressing mine. Then I leaned forward and deepened it, moving as little muscles as I could in the rest of my body, terrified of kicking him back into his senses and pushing him away. He returned the gesture and his free hand gripped my waist tightly, pulling me onto his lap. Oh, God, it was better than I ever expected. My arms wrapped around his neck and his lips trailed off my lips to my own neck. It felt a thousand times better than in my most secret thoughts. He gave me a small bite right in the crook of my neck, making me chuckle and tangle my fingers on his curls to lead him back to my mouth, whispering his name before kissing him again. He groaned into the kiss and pulled away, panting a little.
"This is not right, {Y/N}. We shouldn’t be doing this" I was afraid he would say that, but I really didn’t want to stop. Whatever feelings I harbored towards him did nothing but grow each second I spent sitting on his lap, his hands on my waist and leg, hot breath against my skin and the taste of his lips in my tongue.
"I don’t care. I could not give any less of a damn about the stupid Moroi/Dhampir laws right now. This is not about princesses and guardians; it’s about you and me. Ashton and {Y/N}. I want you" if having Ashton meant Luke would wear the crown upon his head; I would gladly attend the coronation ceremony. A second groan, this time almost wild, emerged from the bottom of his chest and he went after me, biting my lower lip slowly before pulling away once more.
"I want you too. All of you. Tonight" I smiled and pecked his lips, leaving a line of kisses as I reached his ear, biting his earlobe and whispering
"Take me. I’m yours."
It took less than a second for him to throw me in the bed and lay on top of me, making an effort to avoid crushing me with his weight. I pulled off his jacket and he ripped my shirt open, the buttons falling onto the bed and floor. Whatever. He started to kiss my neck, collarbones, the space between my breasts and stomach, leaving every inch of it covered in goosebumps. I felt his hands running through the hem of my skirt, searching for the button and I lifted my body a little, undoing it from the back. He smiled at me and pulled it off as well, taking a quick and good look at my almost naked self, kissing me again. My everything was shaking. I had gotten cozy with a few other boys and even a couple of girls in the past, but as far as taking clothes and doing the deed… This would be my first time. Was I supposed to say anything? This thought crossed my mind as shaky fingers painted in a dark shade of pink worked on his buttoned-down shirt, feeling his warm skin under my tips. After the shirt joined my skirt on the floor, I looked at him, cupping his face with my left hand.
"Ashton… I—I’ve never done this… with anyone" I confessed, the lustful look in his eyes changing of all sudden. Oh damn it, he was going to change his mind about this. His hand stopped stroking my inner thigh and his weight shifted to the opposite side
"Are you sure about this then? I won't get mad or anything..."
"I do, I am sure. I want you to be the first..." Maybe even my last. My mind was clouded at the moment by his closeness and the sensation of his skin on mine. I out my hand on the back of his head, pulling him into a kiss. For a few moments he kissed me back carefully, like I was made of glass. It frustrated me, because I could feel a pumping in the middle of my legs and the need of him growing. Ashton pulled away and looked at me before nodding.
"Okay. I'll be careful with you, princess." His tone was different but for a couple of seconds I thought he was mocking me. What if this was nothing but a joke to him?
"Don't call me princess." I rolled my eyes at him and felt his lips covering mine
"You are a princess. My princess." The way he spoke sent a shiver down my spine. How he emphasized the 'my' made me feel some kind of way. His, all his. The kisses returned to their old pace, teeth looking for flesh to bite, hands traveling all over each other's bodies. We were both in our underwear and he pushed me further into the bed, running his hands down my sides and stroking his way into my center, pushing himself away a little to have more space to maneuver. The intimacy of the touch made my body shake with nerves, uncertain on what was to come but trustful that it would make me forget any insecurities I was starting to feel. Ashton buried his face in the crook of my neck and kissed me repeatedly as he put the fabric of my bottoms aside and stroking me slowly. The feeling made me hold my breath and my eyes snapped open, a gasp emerging from the bottom of my chest. He repeated his actions and I gasped once more, making him chuckle and look up to watch my reactions. Perv. "You are so lovely"
"Do not give me that look while you are doing that, Ashton Irwin"
"Is that an order, Princess?"
"Yes, it is." He kissed me and the rhythm of his movements increased, making me squeal under his influence. At some point he started to slow down, pulling his hand away along with the soaked piece of clothing. My heartbeat was out of control and I was shaking with anticipation, possibly the look of my dilated pupils made him hurry up and within in a minute he was back on top of me, cupping my face.
"I told you I would be careful and I meant it. If you st-"
"Fucking hell just do it before I send the guards to cut off your head" his laugh made me laugh as well and took the tension away, which was good. This wasn't a moment to be tense, I was supposed to enjoy it. I was enjoying it. He was so... god, he was perfect. I ran my hands to his hard abs and lower back, all the way up to his shoulders and hugged him. "Take me."
And he did. Gentle, as promised. Easing himself into me, sending all kinds of vibrations through my body and spine, making me bury my nails on his skin. It made me wonder if it was bothering, him, but if it did, he never mentioned it. Surprisingly, it wasn't half as painful as all my friends had spoken, but I didn't see fireworks over me either. It was intimate, and pleasuring, and uncomfortable, and wonderful and weird. When his hips started to rock against mine it didn't take long for me to come undone under him, and when I came out with a bang he smiled, kissing my forehead. "This will not be nice though..." I felt how he pulled away slower than he entered but I stopped him "Why?"
"You... Aren't you...."
"This is about you. I will be fine" and once again, things went as promised. For a moment there I wondered about how he knew so much about this but the answer was obvious and it didn't make me happy at all. Ashton retrieved his shirt from the floor and cleaned me, making my face burn with shame. "Don't tell me you're embarrassed after what we just did"
"No, no! Well, a little." Now that my body was cooling off and so was my mind, so much exposure to him made me feel intimidated. Apparently he read my mind because he pulled the covers over us and hugged me, kissing the top of my head and snuggling me closer to his body. "I liked that very much. Thank you, Ashton"
"I am here to serve you, Your Highness" and he kissed me deeply again. The sun must have been shining outside, and for the very first time in months, I fell asleep feeling truly exhausted and happy.
