I quickly type out my address, hoping he’s not terribly far away. I still don’t even know where he lives. We have so much to catch up on, but that’ll have to wait because right now, I feel like I’m being burned alive from the inside.
From Duncan:I’ll see you soon <3
Good. This is good. This is totally fine.
Maybe I should warn him about what’s going on. I don’t want to completely blindside the poor guy. When I try to pull my phone back out, my fingers fumble. My hands are starting to shake.
Okay, so maybe typing is out of the question for now. I close my eyes, doing my best to keep myself relaxed despite the waves of heat washing through me. The car smells like Aiden and Brock which makes sense since it belongs to them, but I’m suddenly hit in the gut withwrong, wrong, wrong.
I should be surrounded by warm cinnamon. I should be smelling Duncan. I should be with my mate.
Shit, where didthatcome from? One night together and suddenly my brain has labeled Duncan as my mate?
My head is swimming in a fog of instincts and impulses. I need Duncan. I crave him in a way I’ve never experienced before. The longing in my stomach makes me feel sick with how badly I need him. I need his soft smiles and desperate whimpers and gentle hands. I need his scent all around me.
By the gods, I need his knot inside me.
Brock ducks into the driver’s seat. He looks in the rear view mirror at me with a frown. “Guess I was right.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I say. Despite all the feelings welling up inside of me, I still manage a grin. “Why do you always have to be right?”
Brock sticks his tongue out at me and I copy the gesture. Ellie finishes putting all our stuff into the trunk. Finally, once everyone is inside, we start driving back home.
“Jesus fucking Christ. You guys feel like this every time you go into heat? This sucks ass and I mean that in the most derogatory way possible.”
Avery giggles beside me. “It’s a lot more enjoyable when you’re not cramped in a car with your besties. Did you message Duncan?”
“Yes,” I say, just barely keeping a whimper from escaping. “He’s coming over.”
“Once you’re with him, you’ll have a much better time.”
My face turns bright red. “This is so awkward. You all know I’m about to have my back blown out! How do you not die of embarrassment?”
Ellie starts giggling. “It’s normal! We all go through it!”
I groan, covering my face. Avery nudges me with his elbow. “We don’t know anything. Maybe you’ll be the one umm… what’s the phrase? Laying bricks?”
“I’m gonna die. Just open the door and let me roll out onto the highway. Please.”
That has everyone laughing their asses off. It helps the trip go by faster. I feel like I might actually crawl out of my skin if I don’t get out of this car soon. Thankfully, it’s only a few more minutes before we’re blissfully back in town.
As we pull into my driveway, there’s a car already there. My stomach swoops violently as someone steps out.
Duncan.
It’s Duncan and I can finally see his face.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Avery says, shaking my shoulder. “Go get your man!”
Chapter Nine
Duncan
“Mother,” I say, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Oh, Duncan. I’m so glad you’re here,” she says back, gripping me in a vise-like grip. “I already feel so much better just from having you beside me.”
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay,” I murmur, more for myself than for her. “Have you heard anything yet?”
