Double Star

25 : Friends Forever.

POV: Ashley

"Have sex," I said casually, leaning in to kiss him. But he turned his face to the side.

"Oh, come on! You wrote me a poem, but don't want to fuck me?" I whined, pulling on the hem of his shirt. He widened his eyes at my dirty word, and I surprised him by pressing my lips to his. His tongue was warm and sweet. I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck, feeling his arousal against my body.

"I..." he breathed, pulling away from my lips with effort. I frowned.

"Don't get mad at me," he said, catching the look on my face.

"What's wrong? Why don't you want to?" I asked, moving off his lap to sit beside him on the bed.

"I've never done this before, Ash," he admitted after a beat, avoiding my eyes.

I blinked, my mouth half open. "So, you're a virgin?" I giggled, amused by the way his cheeks turned crimson and his eyes looked everywhere but at me. He nodded.

"And what woman wouldn't want to be your first time?" I teased, wrapping my arms around his neck again.

"You don't know that. What if I'm not good enough? What if I mess it up? What if I can't please you?" He ran a hand through his hair. "It would kill me, Ash. Just like the kiss..."

I stared at him, confused. Did he seriously think I didn't like our kiss?

"Your kiss felt different," I admitted, trying to find the right words. I didn't know how to explain it before, not even to myself.

"Oh," he said, his eyes widening, looking almost disappointed. I shook my head.

"Not in a bad way! I mean—I loved it. It's just... I've never felt like that before. When other guys kiss me, I overthink everything. I get so lost in my head, distracted. By the time it ends, I can't even remember how it started or what happened. But your kiss... it was different. I wasn't thinking. I was just there, in the moment. All the noise in my head disappeared. Usually, I want it over as fast as it starts, but with you... I wanted it to last. It felt so comfortable, not awkward or nervous like I'm used to. It felt..."

"Peaceful," he finished.

I nodded. "Yeah. Peaceful." He smiled warmly, and I pressed my lips to his again.

My hands slipped under his shirt, fingers grazing his abs. He shivered, and I chuckled, pushing him gently toward the bed, but he resisted.

"Ash..." he whispered, catching himself before he could fall, his hands firm on my waist.

"It'll be fine. I'm here. I'll help you," I whispered in his ear. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and moved to lift his shirt. He didn't stop me. Instead, he helped me take it off, revealing his defined muscles.

I stared, running my fingers softly over his stomach. He shivered at my touch again, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You work out?" I asked, kissing his warm neck. He gently rested his hand on my head, his heartbeat quickening under my lips.

"Yeah. Taekwondo for ten years. And Harry drags me to the gym every week."

I smiled and kissed his jaw. "And still, no girlfriend?"

"I had one, but she dumped me for a friend," he said breathlessly as our lips parted. I traced the shape of his mouth with my finger and pecked his lips again and again. They weren't dry anymore—now they tasted like my cherry lipstick and sweet wine.

"Oh god, you taste so good, Ed," I whispered against his neck, sucking his burning skin. He moaned my name, and I smiled, sucking harder.

"You... You do too, Ash," he said, almost breathless.