an Everlasting Pursuit

sixty three

I was disturbed by a gentle swaying, a soft sigh leaving me at being disrupted. My eyes fluttered open, seeking the movement. It was a gentle lull, a swaying that came with every exhale of breath. Something warm was beneath my head as another thing stroked through my hair.

My senses came too, my sleepy brain finally realising that it was a someone, not a something. I had fallen asleep and someone was touching me. But before the panic could even start, a deep voice stopped me in my tracks.

"It's just me, Tulip."

Asra.

I sighed, settling my head back down on what I now realised was his thigh. His fingers returned to run through my hair and I let myself relax into his touch. I closed my eyes but stayed awake, listening to the soft chirping of crickets.

"I was not expecting to come home and find my mate asleep on a random swing on my front porch." He murmured softly. "Caleb said you planned all of this?"

I hummed a yes, too tired to speak.

"It looks amazing." He sighed, his feet pushing the swing to keep moving. "I'm glad you did it."

"What time is it?" I wondered.

There was a pause as he checked for the time. "Twenty to twelve."

"Oh... When did you get back?" I muttered.

"Around eleven." He replied. "I thought you'd be in bed, Tulip. Not surrounded by blankets and electric candles on a damn swing."

I laughed softly at that, nodding. "I bought it for a reason."

"You mean, I bought it." He chuckled, the vibrations of his voice humming against my ear.

"Eliza told me about a cute thing called an Alpha's tab." I quipped.

He hummed. "I bet she did. I'm glad you had fun."

How was I supposed to win this little game if he didn't even care I spent his money?

Sighing, I pulled myself up to sit by his side. His hand didn't stray from my body, sliding down my back as I rose. It wrapped around my hip, sliding beneath the fabric as he pulled me closer. My skin burned beneath his touch, my entire body coming alive with feeling.

Staring up at his face, I noticed how exhausted he looked. His blue gaze was soft and hooded, with dark shadows that caressed his cheeks. I found my hand moving to lightly caress the puffy tissue, my lips pulling down into a frown. He jerked slightly at the contact, not expecting it.

"You are tired." I mumbled.

His jaw tensed, my eyes following the movement as the muscle flexed. Asra didn't reply, keeping those blue eyes locked onto my face. Being so close to him, his scent enveloped me. He smelt of dewy grass, fresh wood and just plain old outdoors. His skin was weirdly smooth, the light stubble of facial hair noticeable this close up.

Asra continued to stare at me as I ran my eyes along his features. My body rose and fell in sync with the rise of his chest, our breaths falling in tandem. It was oddly calm, something I haven't felt in a while. So close to him, I could see the darkened outer circle of his iris, how his eyes lightened the closer to the pupil they got. They were a dazzling dark blue, the opposite end of the spectrum to my own. Dad always said I had the skies in my eyes, and perhaps Asra had the night.

I smiled softly at my imagery, my fingers trailing down the side of his face to trace his jaw. His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat, my skin prickling with awareness as my touch neared his mouth. Taking the situation into my control, I slowly lowered my thumb along the crease of his lower lip. His breath hitched slightly, my lips parting with exasperation.