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We sit at our seats and I take a moment to breathe. I hadn’t expected that to be so tense, but I feel the tension in the air dissipating. I know I upset them, and that’s my own fault. As detectives, they have a right to be angry with me over this. I withheld evidence from them, something that could potentially help solve the case. That makes me feel guilty, but they’re right.

I gave it to them now and everything is going to be okay.

I just know it.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Raewyn

I look between the two of them before glancing at my glass.

“Would you like more?” Pierce asks.

“Yes, please.”

He takes the bottle and fills my glass halfway. I pick it up and take a big gulp, swallowing it down before putting the glass down too.

“My heat will be coming again soon,” I start, unable to meet their gazes now. “A week, maybe. And I, uh… was wondering if you would be okay helping me through it.”

My words are slow as they come out. Unsure.

I’m met with silence, and I don’t know what to do because I’m starting to feel embarrassed over asking. My cheeks are burning and I quickly reach for my wine to finish it off.

When I finally get the courage to look up, they’re both staring at me.

“You want us to help you through your heat?” Pierce asks in disbelief.

“Yes?” I say, unsure of my words, even though I know it’s true.

I do want them to help me. I’ve thought about it a lot.

“We would fucking love to,” Forge says seriously.

“Really?” I say, perking up.

“Yes,” he says firmly.

I look at Pierce, who just smiles at me.

“Yes,” he agrees. Then looks at Forge. “We’ve talked about it a few times, and of course it’s all up to you.” He looks back at me. “But we’re on board with whatever you want.”

“Even… bonding?”

The heat in the room rises, and I feel like I already have my answer.

“That too,” Pierce says. “As long as it’s what you want beforehand, and not something being said in the heat of the moment.”

“I want to,” I say with an eager nod. “I’ve thought about it, and well, I definitely want to.”

“So do we,” Pierce says.

“More than anything,” Forge adds, his tone much different than it was a little while ago. Like all the annoyance and frustration with me has disappeared.

“We will have to take time off work,” Pierce says. “Not that it’s an issue, because it’s not. I just think it’s smart to have a plan.”

“We should see what’s on this drive then. Depending on what it is, we could have everything laid out before it even happens,” Forge suggests.

“You think so?” I ask.