Being Saved By The Alpha

Chapter Seventeen

Recap:

I felt like I never wanted that brief moment to end.  

But all too soon it does.  

Ashton pushes up off the sand banks and breaks through the water's surface before we both take in a deep breath of air. 

Ashton shakes his head, flinging drops of water out of his hair. A grin spreads across his face, making me feel weak at the knees. 

That same strange feeling bubbles in my chest again. I blush as I realise I still have my legs clamped to his waist and my hands are still on his shoulders, but I cover it up with a grin as excitement creeps back into my system. His arms are looped under my thighs, his hands linked.  

"That was fun." I say. 

Ashton grins at me too. "That it was."

It is afternoon time now. Ashton and I spent the whole day at the beach, laughing and playing in the water. Luckily neither one of us got sunburnt, that would've hurt. 

Right now I am lying stomach first on my towel, watching the sun dip down behind the water's horizon. It made the water seem orange and it is really beautiful. 

Ashton was the same. 

All throughout the day, whenever he touches me, all I can feel are those sparks. They have seemed bigger, brighter since the thrilling moment when Ashton dragged me underwater and I clung onto him tightly. 

I sighed happily, looking at the reflection of the orange sun on the water again. I turn to Ashton. "Want to go for a walk?" I ask hopefully. I really need to move, it feels weird just lying around doing nothing. 

Ashton nods. "Sure." He says, standing up. "Come on." He puts a hand down and I take it to haul me up on my feet.  

Together we make our way down to the shoreline.  

"How come the water is further up on the sand now?" I ask Ashton, splashing some water a little with my bare foot. 

"Well, the tides get pulled up by the gravitational force of the moon. So the more the moon rises, the higher the tide is. The further away the moon is, the lower the tide." He explains. 

"Oh, well I guess that makes sense." I say.  

For a while we settle into a silence, walking side by side but not touching. My left hand constantly brushes against his right one, whether he does it or I do it. It's like both of us are afraid to hold each other's hand in case it might seem to... forward. 

But I want to. I like the fact that his hand is so much bigger than mine and is always so warm. It's like he's my personal heater. 

With a frustrated little sound and a scowl I reach for his hand and tentatively intertwine our fingers, before smiling to myself. That's better, I think to myself, happier now.  

I look back out across the orange sea, a ghost of a smile on my lips as mine and Ashton's hands swing back and forth gently. It's so peaceful out here. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the warmth of the sun and Ashton are making me sleepy.  

Leisurely we head back to where we placed our towels and pack up. Ashton leads me back to the parking lot where we put our stuff in the car. There is a tap shower sort of thing where we wash the sand off us before drying in the sun quickly.  

I yawn as we hop in the car, curling up in the chair. Ashton hops in on the other side and starts the car. He doesn't seem as tired as I am.  

Ashton starts the car and drives out of the parking lot. I turn in the seat to face him, resting my head on the chair and close my eyes. Ashton reaches over and holds my hand with one of his.