Alpha’s Badass Mate novel

---- Made for eachother Alex suddenly wakes , missing the state in between dreaming and waking for a moment lost in disorientation. Thoughts, or rather sensations of memories , slowly flood his mind, and he's aware of the body next to him. Relief is ebbing through him. He rubs sleep from his eyes before he turns around, strangely emotional the moment he lays eyes on Ashly's relaxed expression . For only a few moments before she starts to stir, her eyes opening sluggishly.

A rise of guilt tightens his chest, a notion of shame and failure. "I'm sorry I was like that yesterday and that you had to do that. Take care of me, I mean." He feels his throat closing, making swallowing hard. Ashly reacts fast and unexpectedly, her fingers covering Alex's mouth and her eyes fully aware, piercing his. "I'm not. You've been taking care of me even when I didn't want you to or didn't realize what you were doing.

If you want a one-sided relationship , you have to find it somewhere else, Alex. Either we're there for each other when we need it, or we're not." Alex's hand flies over Ashly's mouth in return, cutting her words off as he frees her lips. "Don't. Of course we're there for each other ; don't even talk about us being apart." ---- Ashly's gaze softens at the hint of panic in Alex's eyes and voice, and she takes Alex's hand into her own, interlacing their fingers.

"Then don't apologize for anything like this anymore. You apologize if you did something wrong, not for anything else. And talk to me when you feel bad, sad, or anything else. Just talk to me. When you're happy, too. Alright?" Alex can't suppress the smile at Ashly's words, alleviation weaving through him, warm and tingly , fascinated by the sweet , determined look on Ashly's loveable face.

Sometimes Ashly can make everything seem a lot clearer and simpler than it appears in Alex's troubled and confused mind. He's so lucky and happy to have her. He nods, bringing their entwined hands to his lips and kissing Ashly's knuckles one by one, staying in the safe comfort of his gaze. He reaches for Ashly's fingers , feeling her pulse through the sensitive skin on his lips, acutely aware of something missing. He halts and cocks his head.

"Where's your ring?" He intuitively checks his own finger, finding it missing as well. "Bathroom" is all Ashly says, but Alex gets it, though the memory is hazy. Alex sighs and presses Ashly's wrist against his own ---- temple, letting his fingers slide slowly down his forearm, feeling the goosebumps rushing along Ashly's skin underneath his fingertips. They share a smile, Ashly's twinkling eyes no doubt chiding Alex silently but also feeling amused.

Alex knows most of his expressions by heart, and he will learn every single one he doesn't in time. "Why did you listen to those songs? For punishment?" Alex averts his eyes, suddenly feeling caught, a pang of misery, but Ashly surprises him again, pushing him back, moving to lie on his chest, cradling Alex's face with his hands. "Stop doing that. If you really want to be punished, let me doit." Alex's eyes fly up to look into Ashly's, recognizing mirth but also earnestness .

Alex raises an eyebrow , pondering. "What does your punishment look like?" Ashly plays along, pressing her lips together and her eyes upward, seriously thinking about it. "I could slap you until you turn blue." She barely manages to not laugh, her fingers tapping Alex's cheeks to an inaudible rhythm. Alex frowns, unimpressed. "Or throw ice water on you when you're sleeping ." Alex pulls a face, shivering just at the thought.