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“Worse?” I gasp.
“Oh, you poor thing. This is just the beginning. You have a long way to go.”
“No, I can’t—I can’t.”
“It’ll be all right. I’m going to take care of everything. Hold this on your forehead.”
I reach my trembling hand up and press the cold clothe to my forehead as she gets to her feet.
“Where—”
“Just getting my phone,” she calls out, already in the other room.
When she comes back, I hear it ringing.
“Heat Wave, this is Josh. Are you safe?”
“Yes, sir,” she answers.
“Wonderful. What can I do for you?”
“I’ve got my friend here who ran out of her suppressants a few days ago. Her heat is hitting hard and I think we need to get her in there for an emergency visit.”
“How far are you from the clinic?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“What’s your friend’s name? Is she there with you right now?”
“Yes. I’m h-here. Raewyn F-Forester.”
“Raewyn Forester,” Trina repeats.
“I see nothing under that name in our system. Has she ever been here before?”
I shake my head.
“No, she hasn’t. Is that a problem?”
“Of course not. But let me explain what’s going to happen. Normally, we do an in-person consultation to get the best match possible. Boundaries, limits, that sort of thing. It takes a few days, though, and it sounds like we don’t have the time. So, as long as Raewyn is okay with it, we’ll have you come in and pair you up with who we have available.”
“Yes, please. Anything to help—” I pant.
“Perfect. I’ll just need to ask you a few more questions to finalize this, and then you can be on your way.”
We’re on the phone for another moment or two as he asks about my limits and other important things so they can pair me with someone I’ll be comfortable with. Then we’re hanging up and Trina is helping me to her car. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a car and I wish I was coherent enough to experience it, but my cramps are getting worse. Thankfully, before we left, Trina found a pair of unopened slick-absorbing panties to help.
As we drive, Trina keeps looking in the rearview mirror.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, taking a deep breath. For a moment, there is a small reprieve and I feel like I can breathe. I know this won’t last though.
“Nothing,” she says quickly.
Too quickly.
“Don’t say that,” I say. “You keep looking back there.”
“Just thought someone was following us, but they turned off.”
