The first rays of sunlight crept through the tall windows, casting soft golden lines across the sheets tangled at their feet. Pillows were tossed carelessly around the bed, and clothes lay scattered across the floor. On the nearby bedside table, seven torn wrappers sat in a quiet, telling pile—silent proof of just how long the night had lasted.
The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of fabric and the slow, steady rhythm of Ash's breathing.
He was still asleep — chest rising and falling, one hand resting above his head, hair messy and tousled from the night before. His lips were slightly parted, his expression at peace for once.
But Celeste?
Celeste lay on top of him, her bare skin resting against his, her eyes half-lidded as she watched his face. Her head rested near his shoulder, her hair draping around them both like a curtain. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her — calm, slow, unguarded.
She smiled faintly.
Quietly… slowly… she moved.
Just a slight shift of her hips, a test of closeness, and her breath hitched. The contact stirred something inside her — not lust, but a longing she couldn't name. Her body responded instinctively, pressing down just a little more.
And then she moved again.
Her lips parted. A small sound escaped her throat.
A soft sound escaped her lips.
"Mmh… Ash…"
He didn't wake at first. But she leaned in, her hair brushing his skin, her lips close to his ear.
"Wake up…" she whispered. "Ugh… ha…"
Her movement continued — faster, more deliberate now.
And that was when Ash stirred.
He twitched slightly beneath her, brow furrowing as the warmth hit him. His body reacted before his mind did. He felt her — her weight, her warmth, the way she moved. He was confused by the strange warmth and pressure he felt—something on top of him was moving. Not just shifting in sleep.
Moving.
Then his eyes snapped open, hazy with sleep.
"Wh… what the—C-Cel?!"
His voice cracked as he looked up at her, fully realizing her position, the closeness, the motion — and the rising heat that came with it.
"You're… Ngh—on top of me—!"
Celeste gave him a teasing smile, flushed but steady.
"I noticed."
Ash was already flustered, stammering, but she moved faster and harder, cutting off anything he tried to say. His hands instinctively gripped the sheets, eyes wide.
"Y-You're—Ugh—serious—?"
Her breathing quickened.
"Yes."
"I-I'm gonna—Cel, I—!"
"Not yet," she whispered, pressing down more firmly, her voice trembling. "Stay with me—just a little longer."
His chest arched slightly, breath caught in his throat. His body was reacting to every movement, every sound, every press of her warmth.
She moved— faster and harder than before, her eyes fluttering shut.
"I-I'm almost—Ash—!"
He couldn't take it.
"Cel—!"
And then the moment shattered — not with noise, but with silence. Stillness. The kind that only follows something overwhelming.
Celeste slumped against him, she relaxed — completely unbothered, her breath shaking as she rested her head on his chest like he was the coziest pillow in the world.
Ash stared at the ceiling, eyes still wide, his heart thundering.
"…You're insane," he muttered, barely able to catch his breath.
Celeste just smiled, fingers lazily tracing a circle on his chest.
"Peace," she whispered playfully.
"Th-That wasn't peaceful!"
"It's my way of waking you up," she said casually, tracing a finger along his collarbone. "I've been trying to wake you for ages…"
He gawked.
"T-Trying—? Cel, that's not—!"
She cut him off with a pout, laying her chin on his chest like she hadn't just turned his morning upside down.
"I'm hungry, Ash..." she added with a playful huff. "And you sleep like a log."
Ash stared at her in disbelief, utterly lost for words.
"You… you could've just shaken me or—or called my name like a normal person..."
Celeste smiled wider, her voice soft but mischievous.
"Yeah, but this was more effective."
Ash groaned softly. His heart was still racing. His face was red. And yet, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"…Unbelievable."
They didn't speak for a while after that.
They didn't need to.
The warmth between them said everything.
___________
[At the kitchen]
Steam curled softly from the pan as Ash stirred the noodles with focused precision. The scent of roasted garlic and warm sesame tamari filled the kitchen air—rich, savory, and just the way she liked it.
He stood barefoot by the stove, wearing nothing but a black sleeveless shirt and loose gray shorts that hung a little low on his hips. His hair was still a mess from sleep—or from Celeste—but he didn't seem to care. He was too focused on making breakfast.
Behind him, perched lazily on the edge of the kitchen counter, Celeste sat with her legs crossed, wearing nothing but Ash's oversized shirt and a black underwear. The shirt hung off her shoulder, baring her pale collarbone. And her violet eyes weren't on the stove.
They were locked on him.
Her face was flushed, but not from embarrassment—more from a simmering sense of pride and disbelief.
Because all over Ash's neck, shoulders, and even the edges of his collarbone… were kiss marks.
Her marks.
Faint red smudges and purplish prints stood out beautifully against his pale skin—proof of how bold she'd gotten. There was even one on his chest, right near his heart, barely hidden beneath the neckline of his sleeveless shirt. Celeste bit her lip.
"Mmm," she purred, watching the steam curl. "Can I also have a bread?"
Ash blinked, glancing over his shoulder, ladle still in hand.
"Oh! Uh, I think there's some in the cabinet—I'll get it in a sec—"
"Mmm, you already have it though~"
He turned around, confused.
Celeste's eyes locked on him—then slid downward. Right to his... abs.
Ash froze.
His eyes widened. "W-Wha—! C-Celeste!!" His hands darted down, covering himself instinctively even though he was fully dressed. "D-Don't say things like that so casually…!"
His face turned crimson in an instant, ears pink all the way to the tips.
She laughed, soft and amused. "Your face is so red again."
"I-It's because you always say those kinds of things! I-I was just trying to make breakfast…"
"And I'm just admiring the view," she said innocently, swinging her legs.
He puffed his cheeks, turning away quickly.
"Geez…"
She hopped down, stole a kiss on his cheek, and plopped herself at the small dining table like nothing happened.
"Cel..."
_________
A few minutes later…
Both of them sat at the small dining table now, steam rising from their bowls of creamy garlic tamari noodles. A second plate rested between them—a freshly warmed buttered roll that Celeste had definitely not been referring to earlier.
Ash sat straight, neatly twirling his noodles, his posture proper like someone who'd taken etiquette classes. His silver hair was tied into a half-bun now, still messy, and his face still held a faint pink hue from earlier.
Celeste, meanwhile, was halfway through her bowl already, eyes flicking up to him mischievously between bites.
Ash gently sipped from his glass of water.
"Y-You're eating fast today…"
"'Cause I worked up an appetite," she replied casually.
Ash choked a little, his cheeks puffing as he quickly reached for a napkin.
"What?" she said, batting her lashes innocently. "I meant from all the moving. I had to wake you up, remember?"
"Y-You pounced on me!" Ash said, voice high and distressed, face bright red. "W-We were supposed to sleep in!"
Celeste leaned over, plucking one of the fried garlic bits off his plate.
"Can't waste mornings like this, Ashy. You're soft, warm, and taste good."
"I-I—" He pouted, trying not to flail. "You make it sound weird…!"
Celeste reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
"That's 'cause you make it cute."
Ash's shoulders bunched up, flustered beyond repair.
Still, he mumbled under his breath, barely audible,
"…Y-You're the worst…"
She grinned and stole another bite off his plate.
________
Ash tried to focus on his food.
Really, he did.
But as Celeste leaned back in her chair, chopsticks halfway to her mouth, the collar of his oversized shirt slipped lower, revealing more of her pale neck.
And there it was.
The mark.
His lips had left it hours ago—dark, obvious, and sitting right on the side of her neck like a badge she wore proudly.
His chopsticks paused mid-air.
His eyes widened slightly. He gulped.
Celeste noticed.
"Hm?" she turned her head slightly, her loose curls brushing her collarbone. "Something wrong?"
Ash's face turned completely pink.
"I-I… I left a…!" He dropped his chopsticks, covering his mouth with his hand. "Y-Your neck—!"
"Oh, this?" She smirked. "Looks kinda cute, doesn't it?"
"C-C-Cel!! I-It's not cute—t-that's…! It's s-so obvious!!" Ash stammered, clutching his shirt. "Wh-What if someone sees?!"
She leaned in slowly, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Then they'll know who I belong to~"
Ash choked on air.
He quickly looked away, hand fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth.
"Y-You're unbelievable…"
Celeste giggled.
"You're acting like I'm the only one marked up."
Ash blinked.
"Huh?"
She pointed a chopstick at him.
"Check your neck, sweetheart."
Ash's eyes widened.
"M-My…?" He scrambled for his phone and flipped the camera, adjusting it—and then froze.
There they were.
Faint, but visible—two on the side of his neck, and maybe even one near his collarbone, half-hidden by his sleeveless top. His face turned bright red.
"Y-Y-You—!!"
Celeste grinned proudly, biting into her noodles with delight.
"What? Fair's fair. You started it."
Ash immediately turned his back to her, trying to hide his face with his hands.
"I-I can't believe this… I look—like—I'm not going outside today. Nope. Not happening."
Celeste laughed, sipping her juice like nothing was wrong.
"Relax, Ash. You look cute with them."
"Th-That's not the point!!" he squeaked, voice cracking.
She leaned back in her chair with a soft sigh, watching him with half-lidded eyes.
"Hmm… next time I'll leave them lower… so no one else sees them but me."
Ash made a noise like a dying kettle and covered his face with both hands.
Celeste giggled again, dragging her foot lightly under the table to nudge his leg.
"You're blushing again," she sang.
"W-What do you expect?!" he whined. "Y-You're just—too much!"
Celeste grinned and shrugged.
"Good. You should get used to it."
_______