She snickers and takes another bite, so I do as well. “Something like that. I don’t remember much from that heat. Only that I woke up in a bed squished between two other Alphas with marks on my neck, and I figured, this is it, you know? But you can’t make a pack that way. You can’t just bond like that without knowing someone. Instincts alone don’t protect you. Logic is what protects you. So, it went pretty much the way anyone figured it would go: as we learned more about one another, we figured out that neither of us were compatible with the other. And eventually, things just dissolved.”
I place my half-eaten plate off to the side and thread my arm against the back of the couch behind her. I cross my leg over myknee so that I can tilt my entire body toward her, so she knows she has my full attention.
“I’m so sorry, Lia.”
She shrugs and takes another bite. “I honestly didn’t know what was happening to me until about four days in. The shivering. The lack of appetite. Unable to sleep. Once the pain at my mark sites set in, I knew I needed to be somewhere. I walked into the local ER, told them what happened, and they had me hooked up to IVs before I could even finish my story.”
I reach out and slide my fingers through her hair. “Family didn’t come by to help take care of you? Or a friend, or anything?”
She shrugs. “I’ve always been sort of a loner. I’m an only child and my parents have already passed on. So, it’s just sort of me trying to figure things out. I’m doing the best I can, you know?”
So much loss for such a bubbly, vibrant woman. I want to scoop her into my arms and never let go. But before I can even think about such a thing, a scent wafts beneath my nostrils. They flare greedily, the sickly-sweet smell of cinnamon rolls drowning my lungs.
I already see the sheen of sweat beading against her brow.
“You okay?” I ask.
She takes another bite of food, but grimaces when she swallows.
I know that look. Her appetite is gone.
“Yeah, just…” She places her fork down onto her plate and sighs. “You can smell it, can’t you?”
“Your pre-heat? I can.”
Her cheeks blush. “I’ve been okay these last few days. I figured I’d be okay for another afternoon.”
I move from the couch and crouch in front of her, taking her hands within mine. “Tell me what you need. A hot shower? I’ve got fluffy towels ready to go. I’ve got a bathtub in my bathroomif you’d rather take one of those. We can sit outside on the back porch with the nice, cool breeze. Whatever you need.”
She watches me, and I notice her pupils are larger than normal. Very large, in fact. The black is practically swallowing up that vibrant green I’ve come to adore.
Oh, I know what she needs.
I need to hear her say it, though.
“Tell me what you need,” I say, my voice a bit huskier than usual.
She shifts a bit on the couch and her scent perfumes. “Do any of your showers have removable shower heads?”
I have to swallow back a growl. “They don’t, no.”
Her breath stutters. “Oh.”
My hands settle on her knees. Her scent shifts again, thickening at my touch. I love it. I rear up and let my knees touch down against the carpeted floor of my living room, and I study her face as she looks anywhere but me.
“Alley Cat,” I say softly as I ease her legs open, scooting in between them. “If I can help in any way, I will. I just need to know what I’m allowed to do.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine and her eyes are blown wide with a lust that I know has harnessed her, at least for now.
I want nothing more than to help her with it.
“I just need to take the edge off,” she whispers. “I can’t think straight.”
I slide my hands down her clothed calves. “Do you have any objections to how I help with that?”
She licks her lips and shakes her head.
“Use your words, Alley Cat,” I say as I grasp the hem of her skirt. “I need to hear it.”
