Page 31 of Vegas Baby!

“You’re welcome.” He leaned down to kiss my cheek, my perfume instantly erupting and betraying my desires. Lukedidn’t say anything about it, but the heat in his eyes had me grinding my teeth to silence a whine that wanted to escape.

He swung open the door without a word, all the alphas inside turning to us. Bryce was on his feet first, already at my side by the time Jesse stood. Luke tensed behind me.

All their scents washed over me. Luke’s fresh oranges and Bryce’s cranberry and rum, Jesse’s roasted chestnut and Micah’s sweet apple. Any trace of the salmon from earlier was gone, and I breathed easy, letting myself be gathered into a sandwiched hug with Jesse and Bryce. I glanced back at Luke, seeing the conflict in his gaze along with his molten desire.

It wasn’t fair. I’d have killed for him to look at me like that before he left California. Goosebumps decorated my skin everywhere Bryce and Jesse touched. Micah’s presence hovered next to me, my nerves alight to have them so close.

“How was dinner?” Micah asked.

“Delicious,” I replied.

“Can I talk to you?” Bryce asked.

“Of course.”

“If you want to come to New York with me, I’ll need to book your flight. Jesse’s too. And Micah’s if he wants to come.” He glanced at Luke but didn’t say anything more.

I hesitated. “I would like to see where you live, but I don’t know if I’m up for a trip right now. I know you have to go, though. I don’t want you to feel sick because I’m not there.”

“I understand that. You wouldn’t have to do anything in the city. My home is yours and you can rest the entire time while I sort things out.”

“She said she doesn’t want to go,” snapped Luke.

Bryce let the tiniest bit of a growl sneak free. “That’s not what she said and I’m trying to reassure her she can rest as much as she needs.”

The moment I looked at Luke, the fight left him. His mouth snapped shut and he walked off into the kitchen.

“We have time,” Bryce continued. “Before it’s unsafe for you to fly, I mean. I do have to go back to New York, at least to arrange things to come back here if you prefer Vegas, or anywhere else.”

“Why can’t you use omega leave and be done with it,” Luke asked while he poured himself a glass of water.

“Because these big companies comply with the law in name only. They would give me the leave, but they would fuck me over in other ways for taking it last minute. Plus, I need to tell my father everything that’s happened. He deserves that in person.”

“I guess I should tell my mom too.” I wasn’t looking forward to that phone call at all.

“Should we look at a bigger place?” Micah asked.

I had too many decisions to make that felt like very permanent things. It didn’t seem fair to ask them to do something bigger when I wasn’t sure if I was staying.

“This place is fine for now.”

Tension filled the air. I felt all of it tighten around me. I wasn’t committing to this place, to them. I should go to New York, at least to see if that was somewhere I wanted to be. If Bryce had no choice but to be there, I didn’t have a choice either.

I sighed. “Book me a ticket. I’ll come to New York at least for a few days.”

“I have leave,” said Jesse. “We can go together.”

The relief from Bryce was palpable. Luke didn’t look pleased at all, but Jesse seemed relaxed.

“Room for one more?” Micah asked. “I can pay for myself.”

Bryce waved off the statement. “I’m covering all the expenses. Luke, are you coming as well?”

“I don’t think you want me to.”

“That has nothing to do with anything,” Bryce countered. “I need to know how many seats I’m booking.”

“I’m not taking your money.”

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