Author's Note: A HUGE Thank You to everyone on the JackXAshi Discord server for their help with this fic, especially orenashii and GatorJoe for their many suggestions and comments, some which ended up in the fic word for word.
Ashi never experienced such dreams before, surrounded by a vortex of neon rainbow colors, being held by a blur of orange, blue, green, and black and feeling wrapped in comforting fire. The mass of colors leaned in, and she happily obliged, thinking a kiss was coming, but a rough, pulsating beat came between them, pushing them apart. she clutched her aching head and closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them, she was lying in bed, clutching an overstuffed white pillow that smelled amazing. But it wasn't the super firm neck support pillow from her luxury suite, and the mattress was much too lumpy, and small for that matter. Where was she?
She shot up and immediately regretted it. Why did her head pound? Why did she feel so drained? And why was there a man on the floor?!
"Hey!" She shouted, startling him awake, hand instinctively grabbing the handle of his katana. "Oh you dare touch me with that, I'll make you swallow it! Why am I in your room? What did you do to me?"
"Good morning to you, Ashi," Jack said, immediately dropping his katana, but otherwise undeterred by her threat. "If you told me where you were staying, I would have happily escorted you to your room. You were quite unhelpful in that regard and insisted on staying with me."
"What did you do to me? Why is my head pounding? Do you know what my father will do to you?" To us both for allowing this mess to happen, she silently added.
"Ecstasy produces a rush of dopamine. When your levels return to normal, pain and feelings of negativity may follow."
She looked away in embarrassment. "You knew?"
"Many knew. Some were looking around to see if you had friends with you. They wanted to prey on you if you were alone. I stayed with you to keep you safe. I would never take advantage of a woman when she is under the influence."
"You kissed me, repeatedly," she growled, unsure if she loved or hated him for that.
Now it was his turn to lower his eyes in shame. "I won't lie, Ashi, I find you attractive, but I only reciprocated, never initiated."
Images came back to her in rapid fire. His hands always stayed in safe areas. Hers on the other hand... She was fully clothed, and though the bed was big enough, and her unorthodox invite to share it, he volunteered to sleep on the hardwood floor instead. "Thank you for taking care of me," she quietly said, fighting back tears. Now that she was sober again, he had no reason to stay with her. "You really are a samurai, a hero." She had to smile at that. Who else would bother to protect a stranger, especially after the way she acted?
"You're welcome," he said and stood up. Ashi's eyes widened and her heart pounded. Was he going to escort her to the door? Was this it? Would she ever see him again?
He pulled open the top drawer, pulled out a key on a keychain, and tossed it to her. She caught it and read the keychain aloud, "Bath - Employees Only?" She was too confused to even begin to ponder what was going on.
"A private spa. Olivia will be asleep for a few more hours. You can use it first to clean up, and I'll put your clothes in the wash. I assume you are not staying in this inn, since you insisted on spending the night with me."
"I have a room in Zürich. I took a cab here after I saw a flier."
"I am glad to hear she has a wide range to reach an audience. Her venue keeps her father's inn in business and helps most of the town."
"What about you? Where will you clean up?"
"Bath tub," he pointed to a small bathroom behind him. "But you deserve something a little nicer."
"Thank you," she said shyly. He guided her to the private spa room, hand in hand as she slipped her hand in his and he didn't let go. The feel of him was dulled somewhat compared to last night, but still sent delight through her body. And his hands! They were huge and so comforting wrapped around her, like she was safe from the world if he was there.
He opened the spa door and stepped to the side, bowing as he allowed her to enter first. She usually found this agitating, but from Jack, it seemed genuine. She stepped inside, and felt as if she had returned to her original hotel. The inn was centuries old, barely modernized for electricity, running water, and heat, but this room was distinctly 21st century: a door to a steam room, a large shower stall with many faucets, and a large four-person tub with jets covering almost every inch of the walls, a large collection of soaps and lotions on the sides . A perfect excuse for a long, relaxing soak. With a few twists of the knobs, the tub quickly filled with hot water.
Her body sighed in relief as she stepped into the tub; muscles relaxing after the workout she put herself through the night before. If she didn't know any better, she could easily imagine herself back in Zürich. But I'm not, she thought with giddy delight. The joyous benefits of spontaneous decision making: a random small town in the middle of Europe, an amazing experience the night before, and what a handsome man on her arm. She couldn't imagine anything this whole summer topping that.
Well, except for maybe that, she corrected as she entertained images of Jack entering the tub with her. That he was the one grabbing soap instead of her, squeezing it onto the Puffball, and running it up and down her shoulders and arms while he kisses her neck. She squatted above a jet while doing her chest and stomach, her imagination running wild.
He's all over her on the dance floor. No part of her goes untouched.
She began to pant as she ventured lower.
She's thrown to the floor. Her clothes torn off. Jack standing over her, hunger in his beautiful eyes.
The puffball was abandoned as several fingers moved in and out of her furiously, a jet manipulating her clit.
He enters her with such force, slamming her into the ground over and over to the same rhythm as the beat. The other dancers ignore them, too focused on the music.
The images were so vivid; the sensations so intense; she never came this hard or this fast before in her life. She collapsed into the tub as she cried his name, swearing as water spilled over the tub walls and onto the floor. "Must be what the mop in the corner is for," she mused.
She finished scrubbing herself and washed her hair without the added benefit of a fantasy, simultaneously embarrassed and thrilled at what just happened. The extent of her lust for Jack surprised even her.
"He will be my first," she vowed as she drained the tub, put on a fluffy bathrobe, and began to mop the floor. "I won't leave this town until he's mine. I might not leave even after," she chuckled, being honest with herself. She still had a month left before she had to return home. The freedom to do anything and go anywhere on a whim was exhilarating, but it was also lonely. She extended an invite for her sisters to join her, but they all declined.
She wasn't sure why; for being septuplets, they weren't as close as she would prefer. They all had their own plans for the summer, and they knew what schools they wanted to attend and majors to pursue. Ashi was the lone woman out. She called home at least once a week, checking in with her father, who did indeed track her every movement, asking her how she was enjoying whatever place she was in at the moment before she said anything, and talking with her sisters. But sometimes she forgot the time difference and called her sisters at inappropriate moments, especially at night when the loneliness struck hardest, and got snapped at for her trouble, making her feel worse.
Jack seemed to want to keep her around, enjoying her company. How could she turn down an opportunity to have a real friend on this trip, instead of settling for small talk with fellow tourists and the occasional local? She didn't know how long he was staying here, but she was quite happy to stay for as long as he did, maybe even follow him home if he was willing, wherever he lived. Japan? Elsewhere? If he attended college with the deejay, was the school in Switzerland or another country? Did she study abroad one semester and that's how they met? "My samurai, I know so little about you," she laughed as she put the mop away. "But that will quickly change."
Her clothes were sitting on a bench near the door, folded and freshly laundered. She changed and left the room, stepping back when she saw a man standing next to the door, dressed in black slacks and a dark blue button down shirt. "Spa is yours," she offered.
"Thank you, but I would much prefer your company instead," the man replied with a grin.
She instinctively reacted, ready to tell the stranger off, until she saw his top knot. "Jack?" So weird seeing him in normal clothes, but still so handsome!
"Indeed," he nodded. "Would you like to join Olivia and I for lunch? I have reservations at a nearby buffet."
She bit her tongue before she could protest Olivia's presence. Jack was in town for her first and foremost. It wasn't fair to deny him a chance to see his friend. "I would love that," she said, fighting a blush. Why did she use that word?
"Excellent," he smiled, offering her his hand. She shyly accepted, loving the feel of his large hand wrapped around hers. He never let go as they walked out of the inn and across town. She found it difficult to imagine such a loud, modern event as a rave happened just outside of this quaint little town, frozen in time. But then again, this place was full of lovely secrets, like the beefcake that accompanied her.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked, dragging her from her thoughts. Oh God, he's looking right at me. "This place."
"Yes it is," she agreed, a slight blush on her cheeks. "My house is half my own age, and my neighborhood barely a few decades old. It's nice to be somewhere with actual history, going back centuries."
"History that lasts anyway. My city is also centuries old, but everything is redone and modern, almost futuristic. I much prefer to be here, where you can almost see the ghosts of the past go about their daily business as if nothing has changed."
"So you aspire to blend in with the ancient samurai as they walk your city in confusion?" She teased.
"Partially," he blushed, "but I do have traditional attire at home: daily wear and armor."
"You better have pictures on your phone. This I have to see."
"I do indeed, and I shall present them later, I promise." He held the door to the restaurant open for her and bowed as she passed.
"I could get used to this," she teased, touched by his kindness.
"You deserve it," he smiled, following her inside.