Page 69 of Marigold Run

“I don’t think I’m allowed to fuck you,” he says, releasing his hold on my butt.

“You’ve fucked me every night for the last three days,” I say, not bothering to hide how annoyed I am right now.

“Yeah,” he says, mimicking my stressed tones. “WithIzan and Hutch. My pack alpha and the second in command. I can’t…” he looks me up and down, licking his lips. “Fuck. I hate my life right now.” He falls back, sitting on his feet. “I can’t fuck you,” he says as if defeated.

I’m torn between deep embarrassment, psychotic rage, and real admiration. The amount of self-control these alphas haveis unreal. Here I am, stark naked and asking to be rutted, and Dassy’s loyalty to his pack is holding him back.

It’s like something out of a science fiction book.

“You are a very impressive alpha, Dassy Wysong,” I say, admiring his striking features. “Your self-control is admirable.”

“You should have seen me five years ago.” He grimaces, piquing my interest.There must be a story there.“It’s Hutch you should be impressed by. He’s the good twin.”

“Hutch?” I say with obvious disbelief. “I don’t know about that.” I think about all the ways the pair are so wildly different. “He’s so stern and bossy.” I lean against the alpha, giving him a flirty smile. “But you smile so easily and always try to make the people around you laugh.” I rest my hands against his chest, feeling the grooves of his pecs. “Hutch is so…on edge.” I nod, deciding that’s the least offensive thing I could have said.

“He’s a serious guy,” Dassy defends his brother, “but he’s got a really good heart. He has a level of control that I never will. Hell, he’s even sat outside your bedroom door every night since you arrived just to make sure you don’t go sleepwalking again. And he hasn’t once snuck into your room.” Dassy’s arms slip around me once again, holding me tight. “I would fail that test in two seconds.” He presses his lips to mine, this kiss so much slower than the last.

So, it has been Hutch that I’ve smelled each morning in the hallway. I can’t believe he’s been right on the other side of my unlocked door. He could have easily snuck in here and touched me, or hurt me, or done God knows what. But he didn’t.

I don’t know how I feel about that.

Maybe I am impressed by Hutch.

Dassy hums as he breaks the kiss. “I promise, omega. Soon we’ll be able to lay together whenever we want.” His blue eyes sparkle as he admires me once more. “Come on.” He lets out a sad sigh. “Let’s get you dressed so I can keep my head.”

I frown but don’t argue. There was a time in my life when an alpha declining to have sex with me would have been a huge relief, but today I’m disappointed. That’s okay. Tonight, I’ll get my fill of Dassy. And then come morning, I’ll pack my bag and plan my departure before my heat starts and I’m really in trouble.

“You look gorgeous,”Dassy gasps as I step out of my bathroom.

I give him a skeptical look, finding it hard to believe the alpha is that stunned by leggings and a simple T-shirt. “Really?” I cock one brow.

“Yes.” He pushes himself off of the tiny couch. He struts toward me, looking like a beast of a man. Hard muscle flexing under his soft cotton shirt. And his thighs. It’s criminal for a man to have thighs that thick. “Let’s go bug Everly.” He takes my hand, threading our fingers together. “Dinner will be soon and I want to get the beta all flustered before we eat.”

I laugh, looking forward to it. I love to watch them tease each other. Everly can sometimes give as good as she gets. Dassy shuts my bedroom door behind us. We pass his room, and I pause.

“How come I haven’t seen your room?”

Dassy stops mid-stride, turning to look at me with wide eyes. “You want to see my room?”

“Yeah.” I cross my arm, sizing the door up and down. “You guys come in and out of my room all damn day. It’s only fair that I get to see your room.”

“Well, then,” Dassy says in his loud, friendly voice. “Let’s fix that.” He bows low, holding out his elbow. “Right this way, my lady.”

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.

The whole room is insanely clean, with two sleek black desks, two matching black dressers, and a bed as big as Izan’s.

“You two share a bed?” I phrase it like a question, but the answer is right in front of me.

“Yeah.” Dassy plops down at the foot of the bed. “We like to be around each other.”

“Is it a twin thing?”

“Maybe,” he shrugs. “I mean, we don’t spoon each other or anything like that. Hutch has his side and I have mine. The only time we touch is when Everly is in bed with us. But I like having him in the same room with me.” His eyes drift and his brows lower as if remembering something unpleasant. “I like hearing him breathe at night. It’s comforting to know he’s here.”

Weirdly enough, I understand that. “I’ve had a few roommates over the last two years at Havenfield. It is sometimes nice to know there’s someone nearby. Especially on rainy nights.”

Dassy smiles and his phone buzzes. The alpha grimaces and holds up one finger, telling me he has to take it. I take advantage of his distraction, using it as my chance to look at the framed pictures on the dresser.

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