So that's why my body was burning up. That explained the sweating and arousal, too. At least it wasn't just me being horny over nothing.
I glanced in the direction Bear had gone. The overwhelming scent of my heat must've been why he left. He was trying to escape the brunt of it. Poor guy.
I chewed my lip. I didn't want him to leave. I wanted him here with me. Doing things. Doing naughty things.
The heat was melting my brainandmy body.
I swore and leaned back against the tunnel wall, soaking up the cool feeling of the earth, but it wasn't enough. The only way to end a heat was to miserably wait it out, or take a knot and get pregnant.
Was the latter even an option?
Animus was an asshole. He knew we were trapped down here together with no clear way out, and he'd ignited my heat on purpose. Why? I had no fucking clue. Maybe he got off on suffering. That'd explain why everyone called him amalicious spirit.
Bitching about Animus wasn't going to help me, so I took matters into my own hands. Bear was still gone. If I was quick, I could jerk off and alleviate a fraction of my discomfort. Masturbating while in heat was like throwing a pot of water onto a raging inferno—mostly useless, but hey, it was better than nothing.
I wrapped my hand around my cock, ashamed and uncomfortable. It felt good in a mechanical way, but not much else. The entire lower half of my body pulsed, begging for a knot. The sensation was unbearable. I hissed through gritted teeth and moved my wrist faster.
It was no use. Even if I came, it wouldn't help. Frustrated, I gave up, dropped my arm and curled into a ball on the ground. The cool surface of the earth was the only mild relief I could grasp.
I couldn't do this. I needed Bear. I craved Bear.
When I opened my eyes, he was standing over me. His cheeks were flushed.
"You were calling for me," he signed.
"I was?"
Shit. I didn't know I was saying anything out loud.
A bead of sweat rolled down Bear's brow. He chewed his lip. "It's difficult to be around you right now. Sorry."
"No, it's fine, I get it. Take all the space you need." I was breathless from the throbbing between my legs. "Fuck, I wish I could control it."
Bear swallowed thickly. I watched his throat move. His signs were slower than usual, like he couldn't think straight.
"Can I... do anything?"
Yes, he certainly could. But that would mean...
I licked my lips, never taking my eyes off him. "Um, an alpha's cock helps."
I didn't even care how embarrassing it was to say out loud. My body burned with desire. I needed Bear to touch me. Anything was better than letting the heat run its long, agonizing course.
Bear's eyes shone, dark with lust. His nostrils flared as he inhaled my scent. It must've been excruciating for him, too, to be trapped with an omega in heat, surrounded by my aroma on all sides.
Bear knelt down so we were level. "I can try to help. But..."
Even though he trailed off, I understood the end of his statement. If we had sex during my heat, it was quite possible I'd get pregnant.
The idea made my heart flip with anxious excitement.
My whole life, I could never quite conjure up an image of my perfect alpha, because I doubted he existed. I couldn't see myself with an alpha I loved and respected, one who treated me like an equal. I was too brash, too loudmouthed, too moody and emotional. But here was Bear who put up with all that without a single complaint.
He wasn't like the imaginary alpha I made up in my head. He was better.
And if there was any alpha I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and start a family with, it was him.
I reached out to grasp the sides of Bear's strong jaw, running my fingers over his stubble. The thick scent of his alpha musk wafted off him, ramping up my hormones. Fuck, I wanted him so badly.
