Taming SSR And UR RANK Superwomen-Chapter 36 — Ashley Reinhart, the SS-Rank Heroine
Thomas was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning forward as he put on his shoes. The air still carried a faint scent of sweat and soap, but now the freshness drifting in through the open windows prevailed. His clothes, clean and neatly folded, rested on the table.
"Thanks... for washing my clothes," he said as he tightened the laces. "You didn’t have to."
Ashley was sitting across from him in the only chair in the room. She was wearing nothing but black lingerie; the set was simple yet elegant, and her legs were crossed with a dangerously casual ease. Her posture was relaxed, as if there were nothing improper about the scene.
"It’s always a pleasure to give you my best and take care of you," she replied softly. "I love doing it."
Thomas glanced up for only a second before focusing on his laces again. Ashley tilted her head, studying him.
"Stay tonight." Her tone dropped slightly. "It’s dangerous to go out this late. You can head back tomorrow morning."
Thomas let out a sigh.
"I would..." he admitted, "but I left Iris home alone. I have to take care of her."
Ashley’s expression tightened, turning more serious.
"Then I’ll go with you."
"Huh?"
"I’ll walk you home. I’ll protect you on the way," she said naturally. "And while I’m at it, I want to see Iris again."
Thomas let out a low chuckle.
"So you’re going to play the heroine and protect me?"
Ashley smiled with that signature charisma of hers—a blend of firmness and flirtation.
"Of course. That’s a heroine’s job."
For a moment, the idea tempted him with almost dangerous force: walking beside her, bringing her home... But the image of Angel in the kitchen burst into his mind. The tense atmosphere. The sharp looks. The wounds still open.
He didn’t want to drag Ashley into the minefield his home had become.
"Maybe another day," he said at last. "Things at home are... a little complicated right now."
Ashley huffed, not hiding her annoyance.
"I’m walking you anyway. I’m not letting you go back alone."
"That, I’ll accept. We can keep talking."
She gave him a smile tinged with soft, almost fragile nostalgia.
"I’m really happy you came back, Thomas."
He stood up calmly and walked toward her.
"Come here."
Ashley looked at him with a smile that couldn’t quite hide the emotion in her eyes and didn’t stand up. There was something about his presence that always made her feel vulnerable, almost small in front of him. Even so, she let herself be wrapped in that closeness.
Thomas cupped her face in his hands and brushed his thumbs over her cheeks.
"I missed you."
Ashley held his gaze without hesitation.
"Me too."
The silence that followed was brief but heavy. Then, with a mischievous spark in her eyes, Ashley asked:
"Can we be boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Thomas let out a low, almost resigned laugh.
"That wouldn’t work. We already tried, and it went terribly. We worked better as best friends."
Ashley didn’t look away. Her smile slowly curved, becoming more flirtatious, more daring.
"Don’t you really want all of this to be yours?"
She leaned back in the chair, shamelessly showing off her curves and crossed legs. Her figure was impressive, shaped by years of training, confident and self-assured.
Thomas shook his head, amused.
"Your body already belongs to me, even if we’re not dating."
She fell silent, watching him with restrained desire. She didn’t argue. She just held his gaze with that intense look that said more than any words could.
◇◆◇
Minutes later, they were walking through the dark streets of Ark. They were dressed casually; Ashley had opted for a long coat over a simple outfit, and Thomas wore his now-dry, clean clothes.
The night air was cold and damp. Streetlights illuminated intermittent stretches of sidewalk, leaving pockets of shadow in between.
"Remember when we almost got expelled for staying out training past curfew?" Ashley asked.
Thomas let out a genuine laugh.
"That was your idea."
"Liar. You said a little more practice wouldn’t kill anyone."
"And Professor Harland nearly killed us when he found us."
They both laughed.
The conversation flowed easily—anecdotes, memories, light teasing about old habits. Ashley laughed more freely now; her usual seriousness had faded.
Thomas, for his part, felt strangely light. For a few minutes, he forgot about debts, family tensions, and responsibilities. With her, it was easier to breathe.
While Ashley talked about a recent internal competition, Thomas discreetly activated the Entity Viewer.
Floating text appeared beside Ashley.
[Entity Detected]
Name: Ashley Reinhart
Gift: ?
Rarity: UR
Rank: SS
Class: ?
Skills: NOT AVAILABLE
Thomas felt a small shiver as his eyebrows lifted.
’UR? The rarest and most exotic tier. Only the top heroines ever reach that level... I’ve only seen it among the most famous ones. Is Ashley really that incredible?’
He thought about Domestication. About the contract. About the power he could share.
’Should I tell her now?’
He looked at her profile, illuminated by a streetlight. She was speaking enthusiastically, moving her hands with that lively energy that always gave her away. There was even a faint blush on her cheeks, heightened by how happy she seemed as she shared her stories.
’No... I don’t want to ruin the moment.’
It would be better to wait a few days. Strengthen their bond again. Explain everything calmly. Besides, he wouldn’t be able to raise her rank through normal means anytime soon.
The Domestication contract method was the most realistic option. All he could do was trust that, when the time came, she would choose to stay by his side.
"What are you thinking about?" Ashley suddenly asked.
"That I’m glad to see you smiling like that."
She looked at him boldly and confidently.
"You like seeing me smile?"
"Shouldn’t I?"
"I don’t know. Should you?"
Thomas caught the hint. She teased him all the time; she always had. He stopped walking and stepped closer to her. Ashley welcomed him, keeping her hands behind her back, unbothered by showing that she was defenseless.
They both stood beneath a streetlight, Thomas holding her cheeks in his hands. The caresses lasted longer than Ashley expected, and without breaking eye contact, she asked:
"What are you going to do?"
"We’re in the middle of the street."
"I see an alley back there."
’Damn, it’s already one in the morning...’ Thomas thought as he looked at her face so close to his. ’I need to get home, but this woman always provokes me... she’s a first-class nymphomaniac.’
Thomas lifted her up, and Ashley wrapped her legs around his waist, laughing playfully.
"Make it quick," Thomas muttered.
Ashley just laughed happily as he carried her toward a dark alley.
◇◆◇
Eventually, they arrived at Thomas’s building.
It was old: a worn façade, peeling paint, cracks that spoke of years without care. The contrast with the academy was stark. Ashley looked around.
"Some place you live in... Good thing I walked you home."
Thomas smiled awkwardly.
"I’m saving up to find another place."
She looked at him intently, then lowered her head.
"I understand."
Then she looked up again and gently ruffled his white hair.
"You’re going to get out of this. You’re responsible, disciplined, and strong. I believe in you."
The gesture weighed on his chest like a silent reminder that he wasn’t alone.
"Thank you."
They hugged. It wasn’t passionate; it was firm, warm, and sincere.
"I’m happy we found each other again," Ashley said.
"Me too. And I hope our friendship doesn’t fall apart again."
"It won’t," she replied confidently. "You have my number now. Text me every day and stop by the academy once in a while. You’ll always be welcome there, okay?"
Thomas nodded. Ashley started jogging back, light and agile. He watched her walk away until her figure disappeared into the dimness. He smiled faintly.
’How ironic... now it’s the women walking us home.’
He turned toward his building. The dirty paint. The uneven windows. The faint smell of dampness. His expression grew serious.
’I need to get out of here soon... Tomorrow I’ll make some calls... and see if I end up taking Lucia’s job.’
