Sunlight slipped in through the curtains like a lazy whisper, painting gold across the room.
Celeste stirred awake, her body nestled in Ash's arms—naked, warm, and tangled beneath the sheets. Ash was still asleep beside her, his face calm, lashes fluttering against his cheek, lips parted slightly in peaceful rest.
Her heart fluttered just looking at him.
His arm was wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. Her bare skin brushed against his. She shivered—not from the cold, but from the memory of everything that happened last night.
She slowly raised the blanket and glanced at herself.
Her chest was scattered with kiss marks—deep red, soft purple. Trails of Ash's affection mapped across her breasts, her stomach, even the inside of her thighs. Her fingers touched one gently, and heat spread across her cheeks.
"…You're ridiculous," she whispered.
She smiled softly and turned to face him.
Unable to resist, she leaned in and kissed him.
Ash stirred with a faint hum. His lashes lifted, eyes still sleepy, but the smile that spread across his face was gentle and warm.
"Morning…" he murmured.
She kissed him again—deeper this time.
Ash froze for a second, caught off guard, but then he responded—hand finding her waist, mouth moving with hers. Their lips danced slowly, tongues brushing, breath mingling, warmth building again in the space between them.
It was tender, messy, and full of something more than just desire. The kind of kiss that said I missed you, I'm yours, You're mine—all at once.
Their breath hitched together.
But then—Ash suddenly stopped.
His eyes popped open.
"Wait."
"Hm?" Celeste blinked.
"You… You snuck out of the apartment last night, right?" he whispered.
Her smile faded.
"…Right."
His eyes widened.
"Does Rowan even know you're gone?!"
Celeste's eyes shot open.
"Oh, crap."
She jumped upright, scanning the room.
"My phone—where's my phone?"
Ash scanned the floor.
"It flew over.... there—near the chair!"
Celeste stood, completely naked, and bent down to grab it.
Ash caught a full view of her naked body again—the curve of her back, the constellation of kiss marks across her skin.
His ears turned violently red.
"…god," he mumbled.
She snatched her phone, hit the lock button—and her whole body stiffened.
"Shit. It's already 6:39."
Ash blinked.
"What time does he wake up?"
"Usually, Seven."
Both of them stared at each other.
Panic.
Then pure chaos.
Celeste rushed to grab her clothes.
"Where's my panty—ASH where did you throw it?!"
Ash choked, red instantly.
"Wha—I—I think it's—uh—under the blanket?!"
She found it halfway under his pillow, not under the blanket and put it on as fast as possible.
Ash was already grabbing clothes from the chair, then quickly handed her a crumpled shirt.
"Here—yours!"
"Thanks!" she yanked it from his hand, tossing it aside for now.
She was too busy hopping in circles as she shoved one leg into her shorts.
"Help me put on my bra—Ash, the hooks! The hooks!" she spun around and tossed him the bra over her shoulder.
"I'm—I'm trying!" he stammered, fumbling with the clasp. "How does this even—wait, got it!"
Celeste was laughing through her panic.
"We're like fugitives."
"This is a crime scene," Ash muttered and chuckled, finally securing the bra.
She yanked her shirt over her head and immediately looked down.
"Where's your jacket—I need to cover the marks—my neck—my chest—"
He grabbed his oversized jacket from the cabinet. "H-Here. Wear this."
She yanked it on like her life depended on it.
She zipped up Ash's hoodie halfway, but a glimpse of her neck remained exposed.
Ash caught sight of it—his mark.
A dark red bruise just above her collarbone, unmistakably his doing.
His breath caught, and his ears burned pink.
"I… I didn't think it'd turn that dark."
Celeste turned to him, her expression teasing.
"Yuh, yuh—you sucked my chest hard,"
Ash blushed furiously,
"My neck. My thigh. My—"
And kissed her to shut her up, his hand cupping the back of her head.
Then he pulled away quickly and looked away, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry... for the marks."
Celeste blinked, caught off guard by the kiss. But then she smiled, soft and wicked.
"I don't regret it," she whispered.
"But thinking about it now… that was just kissing, licking, touching—and this is already what I got?" she pulled the hoodie to peek at one of the marks, "What else if we go that far?"
Ash looked like he might combust.
"O-Okay, s-stop right now. Rowan might wake up!"
He grabbed her shoulders and gently—but firmly—pushed her toward the door.
"Go. Just GO."
Celeste giggled the entire way, adjusting the jacket on her as she slipped out the room.
"Well, I go then. See you later~" she said in a singsong voice.
Ash closed the door behind her and stood still for two full seconds.
Then slumped down against it with a heavy sigh, hands covering his burning face.
His entire body radiated heat.
"I can't believe that just happened," he muttered into his palms.
But gods, did it make him smile.
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