Page 52 of Alpha Theo

We’re back on track.

“Are you sure this thing’s safe?” Brooke asks as we make our way over to the loading zone.

I roll my eyes. “Of course. Skiers ride it all winter long.”

I slow as we approach the bottom of the lift, glancing over at her. “You ready?”

Brooke looks up at me anxiously, wringing her hands again. “Aren’t you going to stop it?”

“That’s not how this works,” I chuckle. “You just gotta step on the line, wait, and lean back into the bench when it comes up.”

Her eyes go wide again.

I laugh, reaching out to take her hand. It feels so small in mine, so delicate. I feel that damn static again when I touch her- like sparks between our skin. But they don’t burn; they’re strangely… pleasurable.

Brooke’s body stiffens a little, like she’s uncomfortable that I’m holding her hand. I don’t drop it, though- I wait a moment for a bench to circle, then pull her toward the lift before she can hesitate again.

When we reach the line, I let go of her hand, turning to look over my shoulder. “Just sit down when it comes up,” I instruct. “Grab onto the side of it if you want.”

Brooke’s got this adorable deer-in-the-headlights look. She just swallows hard, nods her head. Holds her position beside me.

In my peripheral vision, I can see the bench approaching. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” she breathes.Fuck, it sounds like a moan- I’m suddenly picturing her lying underneath me, blonde hair pooled around her head like a halo as she stares up at me with those big blue eyes, saying that word over and over as I give it to her hard, dirty…

The bench hits the backs of my calves, knocking me back into reality.

I quickly sit down and reach an arm over across Brooke’s abdomen to slide her all the way back on the bench beside me. She panics a little, grabbing for the bottom of the seat on either side of her knees and holding on, her knuckles turning white. Our feet leave the ground as the lift ascends.

“Where’s the…” Brooke trails off, looking around. “Is there a lap bar or something to hold us in?”

I chuckle, reaching up to release the safety bar, bringing it down in front of us. “There. Now just lean back.” I demonstrate, bringing my arms up behind my head and lacing my fingers together, reclining back on them. “Enjoy the ride.”

I glance over at her, flashing a smile.

She still looks pretty freaked out. She’s white-knuckling the safety bar now, pressing her back against the bench, her body completely rigid. It’s pretty ridiculous, considering how slow-moving this thing is. For some reason I’m finding it pretty damn cute, too.

“Will you relax, kid?” I laugh.

Brooke furrows her brow, letting out a little puff of air.

“You don’t get out much, do you?” I arch a brow, an amused smile on my lips.

“I get out plenty,” she huffs. “I just prefer to have my feet on the ground.”

Slowly, she looks around and starts swinging her legs underneath her, kicking her feet back and forth.

I grin. “So this was a total bust, then? You’re not havinganyfun?”

She turns to face me as a smile creeps across her lips. She kicks her legs again. “Maybe a little.”

Fuck yeah. Warmth spreads in my chest. That smile is all the validation I need- I totally nailed this.

“How far up does this go?” Brooke asks, glancing down nervously. The gap between the lift and the ground below has grown considerably during our climb.

“All the way to the top, kid.” I crane my neck to look behind us, pointing. “Check it out, you can see Riverton’s territory over there.”

She turns around cautiously, still gripping the lap bar in front of her. “Oh! Yeah, I can see it!” She swivels back around, then starts turning her head from side to side, taking in the view.

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