That First Night Ch. 00b

Author's Note: Hello all, and welcome to my latest story. Part 2 of what will probably be a 3 Part prequel series to That First Night. If you didn't read the last part, I highly recommend doing so before reading this part.

Also, I'm working on a somewhat longer story that focuses on a brother/sister coupling that won't really be canon with this series, but revolves a bit around my stories. No promises, but it looks like that story might be completed soon-ish, so keep an eye out for that.

And with that, I'll shut up so you can read what you came here for.




Ashley looked right at me with a smile on her face and a loopy look in her eyes as a nurse wheeled her into the recovery room.

"She's still feeling the aftereffects of the nitrous oxide, so be careful." The nurse told us.

"Hi Ashley." I said, trying to gauge how far gone she was.

"Hey guy." Ashley responded in a distant tone of voice.

"Ah, she doesn't remember who you are." My mom said.

"Ashley, it's your cousin."

She squinted her eyes at me for a moment, then opened them.

"No, you're not my cousin. He doesn't look nearly as good as you."

I wasn't quite sure whether to be offended or flattered by that, so I just kept my mouth shut.

A few minutes later, she held out her hand and mumbled something to me... I couldn't quite make out what she said.

My face must have shown my confusion, or Ashley was getting mad, because she then started to shout.

"HOLD MY HAND YOU DICK!"

"Ashley!" mom scolded.

Shocked by her tone of voice, I proceeded to take her hand and hold it.

We all stayed in recovery for another 45 minutes until the doctor came in and checked on Ashley.

After getting her out to the car and seated next to me so I could watch her, we set off for home.

About 10 minutes into the drive back, Ashley started talking again.

"I told you guys I shouldn't have worn makeup today... It's ugly."

"We'll take it off when we get home." I told her.

"I look ugly!"

"No, you look so pretty."

"But I don't feel pretty."

I was about to respond to that when she switched gears.

"Why do I feel so weird?"

"Because you just got out of surgery." I responded.

"What?!" She said as her eyes got big.

"You had surgery on your teeth."

"Why? ...I already had braces."

"Yeah, but they took your wisdom teeth out."

"Oh."

"Do you remember cussing in the recovery room?" Mom asked.

"I wasn't cussing." Ashley replied.

"You called your cousin a dick."

Ashley looked like she was lost in thought for a moment before she looked at me, daggers practically shooting from her eyes.

"Because he wouldn't hold my hand!"

Another 10 minutes passed by before Ashley started looking at me with a strange look on her face.

I let this go on for about 5 minutes before I chanced waving my hand in front of her eyes.

"Doing alright Ashley?"

She then took my hand into hers and looked into my eyes.

'What's going on?' I wondered.

"Will you marry me?" She asked.

Mom and I just started bursting up laughing.

"Did I hear that right?" mom asked.

"Yeah, she asked me to marry her." I said as I could feel my entire face blushing.

I then turned my head to Ashley. I couldn't exactly push her away, but I also couldn't risk tipping mom off to my desires.

"Ashley... Among a handful of other challenges, I don't think the Supreme Court would approve just yet."

With gay marriage being a controversial topic in the family, mom couldn't resist laughing again.

"Why?" Ashley asked.

"Because he's your cousin."

"No he's not."

"Yes I am." I chimed in.

Ashley went silent for a minute while she processed this.

"I know you're my cousin... But will you marry me?"

Mom and I both started to laugh again.

If we were in California, there would be less of a problem. Both cousin incest and marriage are legal there... But this was Texas, so I had to remain either neutral or disgusted.

"Oh my..." I breathed out before continuing the laugh train.

'What the fuck is happening here?' I thought.

Luckily, I didn't have to worry about this situation for too much longer as we reached home.

"We're home now Ashley. I'll help you out of the car. Mom get the door."

As I helped Ashley out of the car, I held her close to me to keep her from falling.

"I can walk by myself." Ashley started to protest.

"Just humor me... I wouldn't want anything to happen to my favorite cousin."

She blushed at me and kissed my cheek.

This feeling caused me to start blushing too, and I could tell that Ashley noticed.

She smiled at me and let me carry her into the house.

Once we got inside, I set her down on the couch before she got up, clearly having other ideas about where to rest.

I followed her as she reached the stairs.

She started to trip and fall on the first stair before I reached out and caught her.

"Oh!" she looked back and saw that she was safe.

She breathed out in relief, looked back at me, and gave me that smile that I just loved seeing.

"Thank you, cousin."

"You're welcome."

"I need to go lay down in bed, not on the couch."

I then without warning, scooped her up in my arms and carried her up the stairs.

"So sweet... And so strong too. I wish my ex-boyfriend would have done this."

"It's okay Ashley, he didn't deserve you." I said as we reached my bedroom.

I set her down in bed gently and pulled the covers over her.

"I'll tell you what. You do stuff like this for a girl you like, she'll be putty in your hands."

I paused for a moment to consider that comment... Did she really mean that?

"And by the looks of what I saw last night, that girl is going to be very lucky." She said with a snicker that told me it was my cue to get out.

"Do you need anything?"

"No, I think I'm fine."

I started to leave the bedroom before she reached out and grabbed my arm.

She looked up and looked me dead in the eyes.

"I love you like so much."

"I know. I love you so much too. I really do."

Ashley then closed her eyes and started to let go of my arm.

"You're my favorite." She said, probably referring to my comment about her being my favorite cousin.

"I'm your favorite?"

"Uh huh."

"Really?"

"Yeah... Like in the whole world."

I smiled as I could tell my entire face was turning bright red.

"I'm serious."

"Aw... I love you Ashley. You're my favorite too."

"Really? Aw..."

I could sense it in the air... This was a prime bonding moment... But there was something more there... What was it?

I walked out of the room, attributing her flirty nature to her being all loopy.

She was flirting with me because I was a cute guy... She didn't even remember I was her cousin in the beginning.

I was the one who wanted her... She didn't really show any interest towards me.

But then again... I could make my move just as well.

I stopped for a moment as I pondered that idea... She didn't have a boyfriend any more... So I could go ahead without my ethical issue regarding cheating being a problem.

However... she might still be hurting from her boyfriend cheating on her. The last thing she would need is someone coming on to her when she's trying to heal.

On that note... I could help her to heal. After all, we had known each other for so long. She trusted me.

Then there was that small bit of attention I got from her at the airport... Her dentist appointment had nothing to do with that.

Maybe I could... Yeah, that would only work in one of those erotic lit pieces I read.

My mental argument was interrupted by her mumbling.

"I'm so fat... Look at my teeth."

I stepped back into the room to find her looking up at the ceiling fan with a glazed look on her face.

"You are too cute."

I left the room and went into the loft to watch the news.

The news wasn't really that interesting... the newscasters were mainly talking about the big tornado that had ripped through East Texas and a few parts of North Texas. 10 deaths were confirmed at that time... and damages estimated in the millions of dollars.

About 10 minutes into the news, Ashley came out of my bedroom and walked into the loft, mumbling incoherently.

The best I could make out was something about fingers and toes before she decided to sit down on my lap.

'Oh shit.' I thought.

It was at this moment that the forecast came on for the week... Sadly, it did not seem like we were going to have a white Christmas.

"Aw... I hate that." Ashley spoke up. "Don't you just think Christmas feels a bit more magical when it snows?"

"I do." I responded while closing my eyes, trying to think of anything but my cousin's ass pressed against me.

I tried to think of how previous years felt when there was snow... It seemed like just yesterday that we had a freak snowfall... But that was in February.

I started to remember a few years ago when Ashley was visiting us... Also a year with a White Christmas. Oh how she and I would play in the snow, having snowball fights and just having fun... Those times were a bit simpler.

"Are you asleep?" She asked as she started shaking me.

I opened my eyes to find that she had turned around to face me.

"Why are you sleeping! I'm awake! You're supposed to be awake!"

Her shaking caused the gauze packing in her mouth to fall out. Her eyes widened as she saw the gauze, stained completely with blood.

"What is that?" she asked in a panic.

"It's gauze."

"Ew. Gross!" she yelled out.

"Ashley, put it back."

"In my mouth?"

"Yes."

"No!" she replied with a disgusted look on her face.

"Here, don't... we'll put a new one in, okay?"

"What, what is that!"

"It's okay Ashley, we'll get you a new one." I said as I walked to the bathroom to get gauze out of the medicine cabinet.

She followed me with a curious look on her face.

"Your... your tooth just has a little boo-boo... But it's okay."

"Oh."

I packed the gauze down and got it ready for her.

"Open your mouth Ashley."

She promptly opened her mouth, and examining her for a moment, I put the gauze in.

"Now close it."

She did as I asked.

"Okay Ashley, let's get you back in bed."

I wrapped an arm around her and helped her back into my bedroom and back in bed.

I was about to leave her to rest when she caught my arm.

"Could you lay down and cuddle with me?"

"Um..."

"Please?"

"Okay."

I laid down next to her in bed and put my arm out. She then promptly cuddled into me.

"Mmm... This feels nice." She purred out.

"Yeah... it does."

My mind flashed back to the last time we cuddled. I was 14 at the time and we were staying at a hotel for a family reunion.

Around that time, I had recurring nightmares about my father leaving my mother and I for whatever reason... I remember how cuddling with Ashley made me feel more secure. I didn't have the nightmare that night.

"We haven't cuddled in a long time." Ashley said, as if she knew what I was thinking.

"No, we haven't."

"It's such a shame we couldn't do this when I went to California... I missed being close to my favorite cousin."

"I missed you too Ashley."

"Yeah... I mean, we stayed in contact... but it just wasn't the same... You know?"

I nodded.

We kept like this for the next few minutes, with me trying everything I could to avoid getting hard.

Ashley turned over and looked at me.

"Let's just take a nap together here... I'm so tired."

"Agreed."

We rested for 15 minutes, trying to get to sleep, when Ashley opened her eyes and stared into mine.

"Why do you think my boyfriend cheated on me?"

I pondered this for a moment, wondering what she wanted to hear me say.

"...He cheated on you because he's a d-bag. He doesn't deserve you."

She started to cry, and I started to hold her closer.

"I thought he was a good guy." She cried.

"I know..."

"I... I still can't really believe it."

"It's okay Ashley. You'll find the right guy for you. The right guy will love you and never do anything to hurt you. Why, I bet there's someone out there who loves you right now."

"No, there's not! I don't know of any, do you?"

"I love you."

She looked at me for a second... And I thought that this might finally be my time.

"You're sweet." And just like that, the crying stopped and she went to sleep in my arms.

So... she must have taken that as just the normal way family is supposed to love each other. The question I had was... Was it a good thing or a bad thing that she didn't put two and two together?

The next few days were fairly uneventful with Ashley recovering from surgery.

One night, we went to our favorite Italian restaurant... That's when things got a bit more interesting while we told Ashley what she was saying while she recovered.

"So I really asked you to marry me?"

"Yes you did."

"Wow." Ashley said with a strange look on her face.

"Although you didn't actually say yes or no." Mom jokingly reminded me.

Ashley decided to keep the joke going by getting on her knees in front of me, something that visually alarmed both me and my father.

She took my left hand and looked up into my eyes.

"Will you marry me?" She said, somehow managing to keep a straight face until after she said it.

The entire table started bursting out laughing, which attracted attention from the tables around us.

Ashley stood back up and went back to her seat without realizing that I didn't answer her.

After this event, we all ate peacefully and finished dinner.

Back at home, I was waiting outside the bathroom for Ashley to step out so I could shower, thinking about what had happened at dinner.

A few minutes later, Ashley came out, completely nude.

She saw me and shut the bathroom door again before I could really register her nude body.

"Oh shhhhh-"

She then started laughing a little and came out a few minutes later fully clothed.

"I guess that makes us even for the other night."

"No, I didn't really get a good look." I said jokingly.

"Haha. Keep dreaming." She said as she departed the room.

A few minutes later, I joined her in my bedroom and we decided to get into bed.

We closed out eyes and relaxed in the darkness of the room.

"Hey, um... About earlier..." Ashley started.

"Relax Ashley. Like you said, we're even."

"No, it's...... You know what, never mind."

"What?"

"Um... One thing my ex-boyfriend said... And I'm sure he was full of shit... But, he told me I wasn't attractive."

"Well, if you want my opinion, he was just looking for an excuse to be a douchbag."

"But do you think he was right?"

"No. You're attractive Ashley."

"Thank you."

I thought that was the end of the conversation before she started up again.

"Do you think I'm sexy?"

"Wha... What... I didn't hear that right."

"I'm just... Say I wasn't your cousin and you saw me..."

"I'm not sure that this is-"

"Please?" She begged as she turned the light on.

I let out a sigh, partly because she wasn't letting this go, partly because I was going to have to make some crap up to hide my true feelings.

I looked Ashley in the eyes and looked at her face, trying to keep my eyes from moving downward.

"Come on, there's no way you're the only 18-year-old guy on the planet that only looks at faces." She chided me.

Not wanting to anger her, I shifted my gaze downward and gave her body a once over, starting with her smooth legs, working my way up to her full breasts.

I then looked back up to her face where she had a shy smile.

"Well?"

"I'd look at you, Ashley."

"Really?"

"I... I would. Hell, if you weren't my cousin, I would-"

I stopped, realizing what I was about to say.

"You would... What?" She asked with a major shit eating grin on her face... Busted.

"I... I don't think it's a good idea to finish that thought." I responded, trying to backpedal.

She laughed out with a weird look on her face.

"I think I can fill in the blanks. Ah... Thank you. I couldn't have asked for a better answer." She replied, her laughter dying down.

She winked at me and then turned out the lights, ending the conversation.

I spent the remainder of my time awake wondering what the hell just happened.