Page 46 of Gold Rush
As my eyes fall on him, I soften as I take him in. His long-sleeve shirt is pushed up on his forearms, his hair is short, but I can see the curl pattern on the top of his head as he tilts it at thepiece of paper. He’s sotall, even half bent over — and the room feels small with him in it. There’s an underlying authority in the way he holds himself, and my heart flutters.
As if he can hear it, he glances up at me, shamelessly looking at my lips.
“June…” He clears his throat. “About last night —”
I press my hands against the counter, the cool stone cooling my palms as I suck in a breath. “I’m sorry. I never should have done that without asking.”
His brows shift, a line appearing between them as he reaches out and covers one of my hands with his. “That wasnotwhat I was about to say, at all.”
I look up at him, pressing my lips together.
He sighs, then steps around the counter. Bennett reaches out, spinning the barstool and moving to stand between my legs, looking down at me. His fingertips brush my jaw, so gentle, like I’m made of the finest porcelain.
“I want to court you.” He whispers the words. “I know this has been all out of order from the normal, and I know that Seth has… meddled.” His eyes twinkle at the word, and I smile because hejustcornered Arin and did the same thing. My body sings as Bennett gives me a broad smile that makes me want to be his sole focus until the day I die.
“I want you to know that if you… have any kind of passing interest in me, I’d love to reciprocate it.” He licks his lips, his eyes searching my face. “I’d love to court you, and be whatever you’d like me to be — for this heat, and any that come after.”
My heart cracks at the sincerity in his voice, the honesty and openness with which he speaks. Bennett’s hand shakes, the only tell that he’s nervous that I might reject him, and I lift my own hand, covering his on my face. “Okay.” My voice is hoarse, staring at him. “You promise last night was okay?”
“If I hadn’t been otherwise preoccupied with Seth, I would have dragged you into the room between us.” His head lowers, his eyes locked on mine. “And I should have fucking done this in the dressing room.”
I gasp as he lifts my chin, then bends down, kissing me softly.
I tip into him, wrapping my other arm around his neck and to kiss him just as softly and sweetly in return, savoring the taste of orange on my tongue, so bright and vibrant. It’s almost chaste, how he touches me, letting me hum into the movement of his lips on mine. Bennett brushes his lips over my cheeks, then kisses the tip of my nose.
“You really are warm.” His hand leaves my face, and he rubs his thumb across my jaw one last time, his brow pinching. “Tell me what you like to eat, darling. I’ll make sure we have it.”
I stare up at him, utterly and completelyfuckedbecause I was a fool if I ever thought I wouldn’t fall for this kind alpha who’s done nothing but make sure I’m alright since the moment we met in that stupid elevator.
Of course, it only takes me about twenty minutes to make him disgruntled again.
“You’re too amenable.” He mutters the words as he kisses my cheek, grabbing the grocery list in his other hand as he pulls back. All I did was tell him whatever he normally cooks is fine — which is apparently unacceptable.
I sigh. “I like risotto.”
Bennett glances at me as he lingers in the foyer. “I can do something with that, thank you.” He casts me a little look before he steps out the front door.
I watch him go, chewing on my lower lip as he disappears outside, just as my phone starts to ring in my pocket.
When I fish it out and glance down at the screen, the lightness in my chest suddenly weighs a thousand pounds.
Three notifications stare back at me. The screen flashes before an incoming call overtakes the display, giving me two options: to answer or to ignore my mother.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THEO
My phone won’t shutthefuckup.
Seth
Do you need to go to the ER? I don’t think it’s healthy to have a stick lodged up your ass this long.
When I check it again, I read only one of the litany of messages he’s sent, between the pack group chat and his private stream of consciousness that my phone is unwillingly subjected to.
He’s already sent a barrage of photos from nesting stores, of items and various fabrics — all with input about how he’s spent the morning shopping for the omega currently taking up all the real estate in my mind. She’s living rent-free intwoplaces now.
After being reamed out by Arinandthe events of the movie night, I’m just fucking confused.