"Would you please..." She trailed off, her expression unreadable as she sat at the edge of the bed, staring at him.
"Would I what?" He asked.
She took a deep breath before finally blurting out, "Would you please flex your muscles and let me touch them? Just once?"
Her eyes shimmered with anticipation, practically pleading with him. She looked as if this one request could change her entire life.
Ashton let out a sigh. "No."
"NOOO! PLEASE ASH, PLEASE…" she whined dramatically.
"You heard me…" he said flatly.
She pouted, her lips curving downward like a child denied their favourite candy. "That's not fair! So close yet so far..." she mumbled, twisting her wrists in a mock sob, playfully acting as if she was about to cry.
Ashley kept pouting, her big, pleading eyes fixed on Ashton, hoping he'd give in. But he didn't even flinch.
She sighed dramatically, flopping onto the bed beside him. "You're so mean," she grumbled, staring at the ceiling.
"Not mean. Just not entertaining your nonsense," Ashton replied, leaning back against the headboard.
She huffed. "Come on! It's not nonsense. It's pure admiration. Do you even realize how many girls would kill to be in my position right now?"
It was a little surprising for Ashton to see his dominating Aunt who has done nothing but played game pinned him down and brutally dominated until now acting like a child and craving for him to let her touch his muscles.
"I won't ever let you touch me…"
Ashley gasped, placing a hand on her chest as if he had just deeply offended her. "Wow. I thought we were family. But nooo, here you are, treating me like some random fangirl."
"Because you are acting like one," he shot back, shaking his head.
She narrowed her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you're still here," Ashton smirked.
Ashley groaned, rolling onto her stomach, kicking her legs in the air. "I swear, one day you'll regret not letting me touch them when I asked nicely."
He let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, sure."
There was a brief silence before she peeked at him from the corner of her eye. "What if I just—"
"Aunt, NO!" Ashton warned.
She grinned mischievously, stood up from the bed and inching closer. "I'm just saying... if my hand just happens to land on your arm—"
"AUNT!"
Too late. In a split second, her fingers grazed his chest before he swatted her hand away.
"HEY!" She stood closer, clutching her chest in mock offence. "That was so unnecessary! I barely even touched it!"
Ashley sprawled back on the bed, groaning dramatically as if she had just suffered the greatest injustice of her life.
"I swear, Ash, you're the worst," she muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead like a tragic heroine in a play.
Ashton, completely unbothered, wearing his shorts. "You'll survive."
She huffed, turning onto her side to face him. "You could just let me touch them once and end this misery."
"No." Ashton replied sharply wearing his gym t-shirt.
Ashley sighed, flopping onto her back again. "Fine. Be heartless."
She got up swiftly "I am angry now, I am going to my room. Don't talk to me."
"Okay"
"Ugh, you meanie! I swear, someday I will get my revenge. Hmph." She walked out of the room.
Ashton glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I'm not heartless. I just don't care."
Ashley walked out of the room, only to return a moment later. "Not like I didn't touch them last night. I was just asleep, so I don't remember much... blup," she mocked, sticking out her tongue playfully before disappearing again.
Ashton hadn't realized it yet, but the resentment he once held against his Aunt Ashley had weakened. The bitterness was still there, but it was far from being extinguished.
With a sigh, he opened a drawer, pulling out a hairband. Gathering his hair, he tied it into a neat bun before reaching back into the drawer for his sunscreen. He squeezed some onto his palm and began applying it to his face and arms with practiced ease.
As he looked up, his eyes met the small mirror mounted on the wall. He tilted his head slightly, studying his reflection.
'Well, Aunt was right… I actually am pretty dashing.'
A smug grin crept onto his face as he admired himself. He flexed his muscles, first a double biceps pose, then rolling his shoulders to emphasize their broadness. Self-glazing at its finest.
Just then, a vibrating sound snapped him out of his moment. His phone rang.
He turned toward the table and picked it up. The name on the screen made his lips twitch into a smile.
Jenny.
His heart lifted as he swiped to answer. "Hey, sweetheart…"
But instead of the warm response he expected, her voice came through sharp and serious.
"Are you for real?"
His smile faltered. "What's wrong?"
"You're not seeing my messages, not picking up my calls. Where are you?"
Ashton sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Jenny. Calm down. My Aunt fell sick, and my mom's not home, so I had to take care of her. I was busy and probably left my phone on silent."
There was a brief pause. Then, her voice came colder than before. "Alright then, take care of your aunt only. Bye."
"Wait, Jen—"
The line went dead.
Ashton stared at the screen in disbelief.
'Wow. Third day of the relationship, and my girlfriend is already angry and hanging up on me.'
Ashton let out a sigh before dialling her number again.
She picked up on the first ring.
"I owe you an apology. What shall I do to please my queen?" he asked smoothly.
There was a pause, silence stretching between them for a few seconds.
"Take me on a date," she finally said in a flat tone.
Ashton smirked. "Alright, your knight shall defend your honor. Be ready by 7 PM, wherever you say."
A giggle escaped from the other end. "Okay, my knight, let's meet at 7."
"Great. Now, I'm off to the gym. Bye."
"Bye, my soldier. Love you."
"Much love, my queen."
He ended the call, shaking his head with a small smile. Crisis averted.