Caspian’s smile wavered at how drained Asher looked but he didn’t lose his smile, "If you’re going for kingpin chic, then you’re just fine."
Asher’s lips lifted in an empty smile at that, "It’s all the rage now, you know."
Caspian laughed although Asher’s teasing words were lackluster, making a show of pulling him up with all of his strength.
He did manage to get Asher to his feet but in the next moment, he was falling against his hard body with just a single tug.
The jab he was about to make at the expense of Asher’s strength evaporated into thin air when the Alpha pulled him into a hug.
He melted right into it like cotton candy dipped in water, once again struck with the indescribable urge to crawl under his skin.
Asher said nothing, the Alpha holding him tightly before he caught himself and loosened his hold.
Caspian said nothing either, not wanting to ruin the moment but he wished that Asher had held him tight for a moment longer.
He wasn’t ever stigmatized for his size and he knew that his secondary gender had everything to do with that but for the first time he was extremely self-conscious about it.
If he were more sturdy, he wouldn’t have to try this hard to convince Asher that they could find a solution to their issues.
There had to be a way around it, right? If he just ate more, and started the gym, it might help to convince Asher that a little hug wouldn’t break him.
He straightened up when Asher pulled away, a dazed look on his face, his lungs filled with Asher’s smoky scent.
"Did I hurt you?" Asher was asking but the Alpha’s voice sounded so far away.
Caspian blinked to clear out the fog in his head, and it only helped a little. "W-What?"
"Does it hurt anywhere?"
Now Caspian frowned, wondering why that would be the case. "I’m not made of glass."
Asher started to say something and then clenched his jaw to stop himself, looking away.
Caspian expelled a breath, exasperated. "I’m not mad. I never have been, but if you don’t stop beating yourself up, I will be."
"Why?" Asher asked, his gaze burning.
Caspian shrugged, "Why should I? I had a good time, the one cracked rib was just a little accident."
Asher pursed his lips at that, and Caspian quickly backed off the topic.
Asher being so upset about hurting him was endearing but if that meant that the Alpha was going to keep him at arm’s length because of that, he would not be having it.
He sighed again, fiddling with the neckline of his sweater. "We should get going."
Caspian had spent an unhealthy amount of time deciding on the delicate sweater which was unlike him because he usually just picked clothes at random.
But he had been really excited for this date and now all that was left was a sour feeling in his middle.
The marks on his neck were completely faded, and he hoped to get a couple more before the end of the night.
After all Doctor Brianna had only put a ban on sex, she said nothing about making out.
But he had a feeling the hug would be all that he would be getting, and even that had started off an old argument.
He wasn’t upset, he was just a little bit frustrated.
He understood Asher’s actions, and that was what made the whole thing all the more aggravating.
He wished Asher would trust him a little, trust him to know his limit and how much was too much.
By the time they stepped out of the mansion, he had already gotten over the little hurdle, hanging off Asher’s arm in a manner unlike him.
Caspian wasn’t sure if it was pure instinct or if he knew Asher better than he gave himself credit for.
Because he could feel the Alpha slowly building up walls, and he’d be damned if he let that happen.
There were very few things he had ever felt the need to fight for, and keeping Asher in his life was one of them.
Asher didn’t want Caspian to end up like his mom, and Caspian understood that.
But even more than that, Caspian didn’t want Asher to end up like his dad.
"Asher, let’s play a game," He suggested as the Alpha drove them out of the gates.
Asher turned to look at him at that, wariness in those hazel eyes.
Caspian could imagine that his bubbliness was jarring, but this was who he was.
His current brightness was a little forced but he had always been bubbly, there had just been a lot of things weighing him down.
"I doubt we’d have the time to stop by an arcade," Asher said dryly.
"No, a driving game," He pouted.
Asher’s expression brightened at that, a genuine smile playing at the edge of his lips. "I didn’t know you were into that."
Caspian didn’t take the bait, dead serious about his game. "If we stop at a red light, you have to kiss me."
That caught and held Asher’s attention for the second time, "That’s hardly a game," He snorted, smiling even wider. "That’s a traffic violation."
"Since when did you care about the law?" Caspian taunted, crossing his arms.
Asher was backed into a wall, not because he didn’t want to play but because it was a game he physically couldn’t turn down.
"What happens if I lose?" He teased.
"You won’t lose," Caspian countered confidently.
He was being a little obvious with what he wanted but he didn’t mind a little underhanded play to get kisses from Asher.
"So there’s no penalty?" Asher kept pushing.
Caspian lost some of his confidence at that, "Um... you um... you have to teach me to drive!" He blurted out.
That got a genuine belly laugh out of Asher, his grip on the wheel tightening from his own unexpected reaction.
"That’s hardly a penalty," He managed to say when he could speak again.
"Don’t say that till you try it," Caspian went back to being confident.