The confusion was to be expected, and Ashleigh couldn't possibly blame him for that. She'd been confused herself, still was, and Axel hadn't even had the benefit of a conversation with Aisling to prepare him for this (or so Ashleigh assumed, anyway). At his question, she nodded, but couldn't find her voice to elaborate. Once Ashleigh had made a decision, she very rarely went back on it, and so as much as the too-rapid pounding of her heart and the bitter tang of adrenaline were telling her to run, she wouldn't take it back. It was too late anyway. She'd said it, and he'd heard it and no matter what happened now they would both know. (Unless, the thought flashed into her mind, she obliviated him.)
She didn't need to run, because after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, he actually answered the question. The relief of finally knowing, of not having humiliated herself or misunderstood, was disappointingly brief. They both wanted something, 'more', but what that was was undefined, and Ashleigh was helpless to define it. If she'd been given quill and ink and told to make a list of things she wanted from Axel, or things she wanted to change, she honestly wouldn't have been able to come up with anything (a nightmare scenario). She assumed sex would be a part of it, but that wasn't her motivation.
She was still frowning at him when she admitted, "I don't know what we do now. I didn't plan this far." Actually, she'd imagined and planned for several scenarios where he told her she'd got it wrong, or that he was only interested physically, she just hadn't allowed herself to think what would happen if they both actually agreed. She glanced, briefly, around the kitchen. "I think the renovation can probably wait." From anyone else, it would have been teasing but Ashleigh stated it as an honest observation. As much as she wanted her kitchen finished, she could actually prioritise this conversation. Now if only she knew what to say. When her gaze returned to Axel she almost smiled. "Even if I had, I would have planned for you to be dressed." It was almost funny.
Deciding it was a little ridiculous to try to have this conversation - of all conversations - with half a kitchen between them, Ashleigh closed the distance. "Obviously, we should talk about this." That much, at least, was clear. "We can't just go to bed and hope everything else works." Actually, Axel probably didn't see anything wrong with that as a plan. "I don't know if everything else will work." She was aware that she was being negative, but Aisling had urged her not to pretend she wasn't a worrier. "I think it can for me. I'm scared it won't for you."