Loving Him (Ashton Irwin a.u.)

Chapter 11

[2 DAYS LATER]

I stretched my arms and legs far away from my torso, pointing my toes out over the thin sheets. I knocked Ashton's face accidentally in my attempt to stretch whilst looking like a demon was being exorcised from my body. He groaned, rubbing his sore nose with a grumpy expression on his face making his eyebrows furrow downwards towards his nose and his lips to pout slightly.

"Merry Christmas, baby," I whispered, kissing his jaw gently.

Ashton wiped the sleep out of his eyes before looking down at me with a lazy smile. "Merry Christmas, Mais."

I grinned, moving my hand in gentle circles on his bare chest. "I love waking up next to you like this."

"Me too," he returned with a yawn. "You're so beautiful."

I blushed, hiding my face in his arm as I groaned and accused him of lying.

Laughing, Ashton took my hands in his and sat up, pulling me with him. "Do you want your present now or later?" he asked in a husky voice.

"Aren't we all opening gifts together downstairs?"

He smirked, sliding out from under the sheets and standing up, his V-line glistening in the morning sun shining through the gaps in the blinds.

"And put some clothes on," I grumbled. "I get all awkward when you're naked."

Ashton chuckled softly, pressing a chaste kiss to my forehead before abiding to my wishes and getting dressed. He pulled on some jeans and a tank top before sending me a cheeky wink and traipsing out the bedroom.

I sighed contentedly and smiled to myself, feeling completely and truly happy in myself. It felt like I hadn't been wholly untroubled in years - which may as well have been true, seeing as it had been years since I was last in love. My last relationship had ended in such a brutal betrayal I felt loving another man would be pointless, and trying to build trust and love with another person was merely an impossible yet fundamental part of life. That's why I stayed away from men for so long. I couldn't even think about thinking about dating again for so long, until I met Ashton. And now, almost three months later, here we were in my old family home, waking up next to each other and spending Christmas together. I couldn't've expected this to happen but I also couldn't've been happier that it did.

After a quick shower and slipping into a festive outfit I went downstairs. I was just about to walk into the kitchen when I stopped myself, hearing just my dad and Ashton talking. I knew it was immature and inappropriate to listen in on their conversation, but it was Christmas Day so obligatory social rules were redundant.

"Ashton, you must know by now that Mais hasn't had the easiest last couple of years."

"Of course, sir. Yes, I know she's really been put through the wringer."

"Then you'll also be aware of how much happier she's been in the last few months she's spent with you."

I was not expecting this kind of talk from my dad. If anything I thought he would be scolding Ashton for barging into my life elbows-out when I had been in such a dark place for over a year. But what he was saying was true. I was noticeably more optimistic and generally content since falling in love with Ashton - much happier than I ever was in the year-and-a-bit that passed between meeting him and my previous partner having an affair. There was nobody and nothing to thank for that beside Ashton and his beautiful baby nephew Aiden.

"I... Well, I can't take all the credit for her being happy," Ashton reasoned.

"Of course you can! Even when she came home to visit us she was miserable we couldn't help her like you have, so we're grateful. Thank you Ashton."