Ch. 24: Confession Pt. 2

*** (cw) There is a mini make out session after the star break in this chapter. Just fyi in case you want to skip it. The first half of this chapter is fine, though ***

The five-month mark was just a few days away, but Niles didn't need the extra time to make his decision. All that remained was to tell Ashton, but how?

Now that the new semester had started, Niles was spending less time with Ashton, though the faerie was as dutifully patient as always, ready to spend time with Niles whenever he was available.

Niles was currently working away from Ashton, finishing up a lesson plan in his study. Sick of looking at his computer screen and jittery with nerves, Niles pushed his laptop away with a sigh before heading out of his study to find Ashton. To Niles' surprise, the faerie was seated on the floor of the living room, copying over lines at the coffee table.

Niles took a moment to stare at him, studying the way Ashton's head was bent over his paper, brows furrowed in concentration as he worked on his handwriting. No matter how much time the faerie spent practicing, it was still completely illegible.

Oh well, Niles thought affectionately. At least he can read now. 

Though Niles thought he was being quiet, the faerie's pointed ears twitched, and Ashton glanced up.

"Hey," he said, smiling. "You done?" 

"Mmm, not quite. I just needed to get some air," Niles told him. He walked over to the front door, slipping on his jacket and grabbing his keys. "You coming?"

Ashton's face lit up, and he jumped to his feet, as Niles knew he would. They were about to do two of his favorite things after all— go outside and be together.

Niles swallowed, and he turned away quickly as Ashton tugged on his shoes. I'm going to tell him, he told himself firmly, touching the locket around his neck briefly. I'm going to tell him today.

He stared at the doorknob, silently trying to hype himself up.

"Umm, Niles?" Ashton said from behind him, his voice confused. "Are we... going out or...?"

Niles flushed and hurried to open the door. "Oh! Right. Yeah."

He stepped outside and closed his eyes, hoping that the crisp fall air would cool his face.

You're overthinking this, he chided himself. Just tell him and be done with it. It's not like you're in grade school with a first crush. And he already likes you! So, there's nothing to worry about.

"I'll lock the door," he heard Ashton say, and Niles wordlessly handed him the keys.

Ashton locked up and slipped the keys into his pocket, turning to Niles with a smile. "You ready?"

Niles nodded and tried to smile back, but his stomach was swooping and turning in knots, his heart hammering in his chest. Do I tell him now? he wondered.

At his silence, Ashton tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. "You feeling alright?" he inquired.

"Of course," Niles managed to get out. He gestured in front of him. "After you. You choose where we go today."

Ashton stared at him a heartbeat longer before shrugging and heading up the front walkway towards the sidewalk. Niles studied Ashton's back and bit his lip, conflicted. There was no turning back once he said this.

Ashton glanced quizzically over his shoulder at Niles. "You coming?" he called, and Niles nodded, heart in his throat.

Oh, screw it, he thought. I'm just gonna go for it.

Niles caught up to Ashton and slipped his hand into his. Ashton whipped his head around to look down at Niles in surprise, and Niles could feel his cheeks coloring.

"What?" he demanded. "You can do things like this, but I can't?"

A wide grin split across Ashton's face, and Niles couldn't help but smile back sheepishly. Ashton pulled their clasped hands up to his lips and planted a light kiss on Niles' knuckles. 

Niles blushed harder and tried to pull away, but Ashton quickly caught his hand again and forced his fingers open, laying dozens of kisses on his palm and fingers.

"Ash!" Niles protested, laughing. "What are you doing? Stop that!"

Ashton completely ignored him. "I love these hands," he murmured, keeping Niles' palm pressed against his lips. "They feel like home to me."

Niles' laughter faded as he caught Ashton's eye. Ashton was looking at him with so much love and sincerity that it made him breathless. Niles smiled softly at him and traced Ashton's brow and temple with his fingertips.

"The five months are almost up," he reminded Ashton, and Ashton nodded, hazel eyes bright. Niles stared at him, completely at a loss for words. He had never seen anyone look at him like that, like he was their whole world.

"Then, is this your decision?" Ashton wanted to know.

Niles nodded. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for the whole hokla thing," he clarified. "But... I do really want to be with you."

Ashton grinned and kissed his hand again. "I'll take it."

***

Relieved that he had finally told Ashton, Niles thought that would be it for the day, but Ashton... had other plans. Once they arrived back at home, Niles was about to disappear back into the study to finish his lesson plan when Ashton stopped him.

"Wait, you're leaving again?" he asked, eyes pitiful as he held Niles' hand.

Niles paused to look at him. "Well, I do have to finish up a lesson plan," he told Ashton, jerking his thumb in the direction of his office. "But you'll see me at dinner."

Ashton just looked even more pathetic. "But I just got you!" the faerie pointed out. "You can't just leave me now."

Niles couldn't help but laugh. "Ash, I'm just going to be in the next room," he said, still smiling. He raised his eyebrows. "But if it makes you feel better..." 

He stood on his tiptoes before he could lose his nerve and planted a kiss on Ashton's cheek. "There," he said, satisfied. "A goodbye kiss."

Ashton looked surprised and then absolutely delighted. Niles thought he was in the clear to go back to work, having appeased his clingy faerie, but with just a small tug to his hand, Ashton had pulled Niles right back to him. 

Startled, Niles stumbled a bit, placing a hand on Ashton's chest to steady himself. He frowned as he looked up at Ashton.

"Ash," he began, but Ashton stopped his complaint with a kiss, soft and sweet.

Niles' hand flew up to his mouth, and he stared at Ashton with wide eyes. It wasn't like he had never kissed anyone before, it was just... well... it had been a long time.

Ashton wasn't done yet, though, as he leaned in again, his kiss lingering this time.

"Let me..." Ashton murmured, pulling away slightly. "Just for a few minutes."

"Ok," Niles found himself breathing back.

He stood still as Ashton cupped his face in his hands and kissed his brow, his eyes, his nose, and his cheeks, showering his face with featherlight kisses as he worked his way down towards his mouth.

When he got to Niles' lips, he deepened the kiss and moved his hands from Niles' face to his waist. He held him there, and Niles felt himself melting into Ashton's touch, completely forgetting what he was supposed to be doing.

One kiss turned to more, and soon they were on the couch, Niles in Ashton's lap. The kisses deepened, and Ashton's hands were suddenly everywhere— in his hair, on his back, under his shirt.

Niles broke away from Ashton's kiss, pressing his forehead against Ashton's with a sigh. He had certainly not expected this to happen immediately after confessing. "Wait," he breathed. "Give me a minute."

Ashton did as he was told, holding Niles firmly in place by the waist and staring deeply into his eyes. Niles took the moment to catch his breath. Finally, he nodded. "Okay," he began. "I'm fi—"

His words were abruptly cut off as Ashton claimed his mouth again, kissing him with even more tender thoroughness than before. He slowly leaned forward, pushing Niles down into the couch cushions, and Niles relaxed at the feeling of Ashton's full weight pressing against him.

"You feel so good," Ashton murmured against his jaw. "How do you feel this good?"

Niles shivered at the low gravel of Ashton's voice and pulled him even closer. Why am I going along with this? he marveled at himself. This is so unlike me. Ashton... really brings out a different side of me. 

He was slipping into a warm haze, enjoying whatever Ashton was doing to him, when a sharp sting on his collarbone snapped him out of it.

"Ow, hey, wait, Ashton! What are you doing?" he demanded, hitting the faerie's shoulder.

Ashton sat up and ran his tongue across his pointed teeth, looking way too satisfied. Niles felt along his collarbone for the stinging mark, wincing when his fingers found it.

"Did you... did you just bite me?" he asked in disbelief, and Ashton nodded, still looking pleased with himself.

"What are you, some sort of vampire?" Niles grumbled, struggling to push himself up into a sitting position.

It wasn't easy with the way Ashton was straddling him, and it certainly didn't help when Ashton suddenly pushed him back down into the cushions.

"Ashton!" Niles protested, but the faerie had already lowered himself back over Niles.

"I'll be more careful," came Ashton's muffled voice from where he had buried his face back into the side of Niles' neck. "Please? Just a few more minutes before you go back to work?"

Niles just sighed and wrapped his own arms around Ashton's back again. "Whatever," he mumbled, and his face heated up as he felt Ashton's pointed grin press against his skin.

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A/N: Well, that escalated quickly.

Thanks for reading and see you in the next part!

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