~ASHTON~

"I'm so happy you're back," Ariel whispers, her voice soft and sweet as she pressed her cheek against my chest.

We were back in my room after weeks in the Abyss. . .it should have felt like bliss but it was far from it.

Ariel had insisted on staying the night, curling into me the moment the door clicked shut behind us.

Her body fit against mine the way it always had but now for some reason, it felt like something was missing.

I held her close, one hand stroking slowly ...