Loving Ashton

| TWENTY FOUR |

I woke up to the sound of the shower running. I groaned and rubbed my eyes. I started to stretch and groaned with discomfort, I feel so damn sore. My mind went back to the night before and slowly but surely, a smile made its way on my face. I rested my arm over my face as I thought about last night and I heard a chuckle come from the other side of the room, "Someone's up early," I heard him say. I looked in the direction his voice came from to find him walking towards the closet with a towel wrapped tightly around his waist. "Goodmorning," I replied, smiling at his backside. He over his shoulder and winked at me, "Morning princess." He said. I laid back in bed and placed my arm over my face again, "Are you ready for today?" I heard him say. I didn't answer. I don't even think we had plans for today.

I heard a zipper and what sounded like that annoying cocking of a gun. You know, one ready in the chamber. I rolled over on my side to find him through the draw next to the bed. "You didn't answer my question princess." He said after a while. He rested the gun on the table and looked over at me with a raised brow. "We had plans for today?" I asked and he shrugged, "I wanted to take you out. Spoil you rotten for a day." He replied. I chuckled and forced myself out of bed, "As if you don't already do that enough. It's work isn't it? You don't want to get bored." I said as I walked towards the bathroom. His eyes scanning my naked body as I spoke, He followed me into the bathroom and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Believe it or not, this whole romance shit I do is painfully annoying." He said as I started to brush my teeth. I looked at him in the mirror and his eyes met mine. In what felt like seconds, he shot me a wink and smack my behind. My eyes widen as I practically choked on my toothpaste and he laughed, "Oh come on, you were taunting me." He joked and I rolled my eyes. After giving myself to him last night, the feelings I felt for him amplified. My face burned read as I recalled last night and all of the things he did to me. I looked back at his face in the mirror to find him smirking at me. "Somebody's having nasty thoughts." He teased. I spit the foamy paste out and flicked him off. "Go away, I need to shower." I said pointing at the door.

He leaned down and captured my lips in a sweet soft kiss before pulling away. He didn't even say anything to me after that. He just smiled and closed the door behind him. I on the hand, sported a seemingly permanent smile as I thought about my amazing boyfriend. What I did I do to deserve this type of affection? This feels perfect. It's like everything is working with me now instead of against me. I hopped out of the shower and grabbed the black towel on the rack before walking back into our bedroom. On the bed rested a dual pistol, I think it's called ... I know nothing about guns. But they were unloaded and just sitting there. My smile faded slowly and I frowned.

I hated his "job". The whole killing people isn't really my cup of tea and these guns were a daily reminder of one the few things I didn't like about our living. It's not like my life was in danger as a result of him being in the Mafia because nobody was stupid enough to go against Ash and thought that were never lived to tell the tale. I just felt like the violence was completely unnecessary. He made his point across by systematically erasing all of the top members in our city and instilling fear to the other members around in country, I didn't see the need to bear arms the entire time.

"Princess?" I heard Ashton say from behind me. I turned to him and saw him holding my breakfast in one hand and apple juice in another. He looked over my shoulder and sighed, "You know I have to." He said placing my food down on the table and walking towards his guns. "I just don't understand why you have to carry them all the time." I replied. He didn't answer immediately, he just loaded the guns and tucked them into his pants. "I don't carry them all the time." He replied and I scoffed at this. That was a lie. Whenever we went places he was always carrying some type of fire arm, big of small. "But I do carry them so I could get rid of threats before they could even act on their thoughts." He continued and I rolled my eyes.

"You don't have to lie to me Ash. I watch you load your arsenals up every time we go somewhere." I told his as I took a sip of the apple juice he gave me. I started to eat the scrambled eggs he made as he spoke. "Exactly. I do carry my guys when we go out. But I don't take them anywhere when I'm alone." He said. I raised my brows, How does that make any sense? Shouldn't he be loaded if he's going out given the reputation he's created for himself in the real world and the amount of respect someone would gain by simply holding his hostage let alone killing him.

He looked at me and sighed before squaring down, our face barely meters away. "I know you don't like it baby, but I have to." He said to me. "Why?" I asked and he stared at me. "Well because Summer, you are the most valuable thing in the world. You're more than an asset to me, which makes you a target. As I mentioned before, It takes a lot more to kill me. You on the other hand, are not as genetically enhanced as me. So, I keep a few on me to keep you safe babe." He said looking me in my eyes. I let out a soft "Oh." as I let that sink in.

Before I could lose myself in my deepest and probably self insulting thoughts, I felt his soft lips press against mine. He pulled away and kissed my forehead before getting up, "Get dressed princess. We have a long day ahead of us."