Page 274 of Alpha Mates

A part of me wants to call after him, to ask if he’s ever going to ask what was wrong with me when Aiden and I returned. If I really am okay. But that part of me is the same one that used to watch from the doorways, wondering if he’d ever turn one of those bright smiles my way.

Kids. I huff a laugh and tilt my head to the sky.

Goddess, do you have a solution? For the kid thing? Or my parents?

The answer does not fall from the sky. Bird poo does. It lands in my hair and is disturbingly warm as it slides down my face

Always a pleasure, Goddess. Always a pleasure.

“I can’t believe a bird took a shit on your face,” Aiden snorts over the running faucet.

“It was more in my hair, but yeah,” I grumble, rinsing the last of the shampoo out. Aiden snickers again, and only stops when I kick his shin.

“You know, it’s all about perspective,” he says diplomatically. “In some cultures, this is considered a good thing.”

I stare at him blankly while he bites his lip, chest heaving with the effort to keep a straight face. He breaks the second he turns off the water and meets my waiting gaze. Doubling over, Aiden clutches his knees, laughing so hard I can’t help but smile beneath the small towel I plop over my wet head.

“I’m sorry,” he wheezes while I dry my hair. “I’m sorry, Jewels, but fuck—this just made my day.”

I don’t bother hiding my smile. “Glad I could be of service,” I mutter, turning towards the mirror, but Aiden pulls me to his instead. Shoving my hands away, he takes over, grin still in place.

It’s the first time he’s looked like himself in days. He’s smiling like he used to, and it makes him so damn handsome. No—gorgeous.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I just might think you’re obsessed with me, Jewels.”

I meet his eyes that practically sparkle with mischief.

I cock a brow. “And if I am?”

“Then, that’d be a little creepy,” he replies with total seriousness that makes me jerk forward with laughter. He chuckles with me. “Not that I mind.”

Our eyes meet for the short moment it takes me to pull him down by his neck. The second his lips touch mine, sparks cascade down my legs, all the way to my toes.

“I love you,” I whisper the moment we pull away.

The daze clears from his eyes slowly to make room for a warm glow. His lips curve into a wide, undaunted smile.

“I love you too, Jewels.” He pecks my lips again before straightening to survey my hair. “I think we got all the good-luck charm out.”

I swat him with the towel as I stand up and turn for my own perusal. True enough, all evidence of Goddess’s blessing is gone.

“And I just washed it this morning,” I mumble, annoyed all over again.

“Yes, the pain,” Aiden groans as he drapes himself over my shoulders, eyes on mine in the mirror. “I’ll put in your millions of products too, if you want.”

“There are three.”

“It’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no, I don’t appreciate my amazing mate’s offer’question,” he retorts smartly.

I shake my head as I fall back against him. “In that case, yes.”

Kissing the slope of my neck, Aiden lets me go to pluck mythreehairproducts out from under the sink. I perch on the counter, and he’s quick to step between my legs.

“This makes my job so much harder, you know,” he says with a pointed glance at our position.

“If you want me to move, just say that you don’t yearn to spend every waking moment with your amazing mate.”

Aiden’s lips find mine, cutting off my chuckles as he bites my lip. “You’re something.”