Page 36 of Gold Rush
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
JUNE
The first movieplays through without a hitch, giving us all something to focus on.
Well, it keepstheirattention. Mine seems to be divided, and impossible to corral because as Seth switches the movie over to the sequel to continue our marathon, I survey the room, fidgeting between the tangle of his and Bennett’s legs. I’m warm, and have already politely declined a blanket, because Seth’s chestradiatesheat.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Arin is twisted in his chair, his long legs extended to rest on the coffee table in front of him. Half the snacks are gone, and what’s left are picked through. Theo is spread out in his seat, his thighs wide and legs open as his drained glass of wine hangs loosely from his fingers, his head tilted toward the TV.
I down the rest of my glass and lean forward, pushing it onto the coffee table.
“Grab my soda, please, June?”
I make a noise of acknowledgment, reaching for Bennett’s drink as my eyes linger on the movie. Leaning up, I hold it behind me to the alpha, and his fingers snag it. I glance back atBennet as he takes a drink, flashing me a small smile. “Thank you, darling.”
Goosebumps rise on my arms as I put his soda back on the coffee table, my cheeks warming as I readjust on the couch, pulling my legs up underneath me. I’m sitting like an absolute goblin, but the more curled up I am, the better I seem to feel.
Seth’s body serves as a buffer between myself and the alpha on the couch, and it feelssaferthis way. He makes a little noise, pulling me closer, one arm hooking around my hip and pulling my body into his chest. It’s a comforting kind of weight, a solidness that I turn my head toward, willing myself to behave as he hums and squeezes me. Seth grins down at me, and in the lowlight, my heart flutters.
For just a moment, it feels like it’s only us in the room. I can imagine coming home to him after long days of touring, his infectious happiness ready to cheer for each and every new goalpost I pass in my career. The vision shifts, seamlessly adding in Bennett, his cool presence an anchor. I could crawl out of my office after drafting for hours to find him in the kitchen, warm food ready for me.
It feelsright.
Seth’s smile softens as I gaze up at him, my heart in my throat.
As soon as the feeling hits me, Bennett shifts behind us both, his hand moving to reach for the fallen blanket next to me. His hand brushes up my arm, loose near Seth’s waist, his nails catching and sending skitters up my body, like striking a match on my overheated skin.
I gasp, arching into the touch, all the careful composure I tried to keep from the encounter with Theo in the kitchen flies out of the window as my perfumeexplodesin the small living room.
I’m mortified.
Pulling back immediately, Bennett’s hand falls off my skin, my heart pounding in my ears as I glance over at him. His face twists in confusion and shock, his eyes locking on mine, his pupils blowing out. I swing my head to the side, suddenly cognizant of the twootheralphas in the room. Arin grips the fabric of his armchair, while Theo adjusts, his jaw tight as his eyes flicker over to me. Their blue is near-black with want.
Seth untangles himself from Bennett, grabbing my hand and tugging me up from the couch. I feel like I barely blink before I’m in the open foyer, away from the mix oftheirperfumes, their eyes on me. My skin feels tight, my cheeks blazing, as I step away from him, the embarrassment overriding churning desire as I put my head in my hands.
“I’m sorry, you never should have invited me to stay here. I keep causingproblems—”
“What problems?”
I jerk my head up to look at him sharply, but Seth just stands almost chest to chest with me, his expression patient, albeit a little confused.
“All I’m doing is driving a wedge between everyone!” I motion to the archway. “I’m making everyone uncomfortable —”
“Not me.”
“What?”
“You don’t make me uncomfortable.” Seth takes a step closer as my mind screeches to a halt. He touches my hands, pulling them away from my face and hair. I didn’t even realize I was tugging at my skin, the sweatshirt, heat radiating up out of every pore of my body. Seth smoothes my fingers out, squeezing my hands in his, tilting his chin down, his voice low. “You make me the opposite, in fact.”
I scoff at him. “That’s only because of my designation.”
“No, it isn’t.” He shakes his head, his voice soft but firm. “You lived as a beta for nearly thirty years, you know your scentdoesn’t have that intense of a biological effect on me as it does an alpha. You and I both know how it feels to beoutsideof the designation politics, just as much as we know what it’s like to suddenly be entrenched in them.”
He moves closer and I swallow, my heart in my throat as I stare up at him, my mouth opening. My eyes catch on the bond mark on his throat — he’s not wrong. He must have lived exactly like I did, largely ignoring alphas and omegas, until he fell in love with Bennett — until he wasbondedto someone.
“What itdoesdo — whatyoudo” — his hands tighten their grip on mine, his confession barely a breath — “is make me want you.”
