Page 130 of The Heat of Us

SO PRETTY

THE PRETTIEST

Ben

You’re very pretty but those pictures are filthy

Not complaining. Definitely not complaining.

I have more!

Aleks

HAZEL I’M AT THE HOSPITAL

Whoops.

Remy spent the next couple of days fussing over the edit and feeding me chocolate. Apparently we said our real names a lot. All the more reason to continue until we got the process perfect.

We eventually decided on a tasteful black and white nude photograph of our bodies pressed against each other to accompany his finished masterpiece. We uploaded it to his account as he had more female fans and waited nervously.

The response was mixed, as we thought it might be. But the women overwhelmingly loved it. Said his dirty talk was on another level this time (it really was) and that they found the whole experience way more immersive than watching porn.

But the best part was that it was something I could see myself doing again. I was excited to plan new scenes with Remy and experiment with different ways to get the best content. When my period finished, I was surprised I felt relieved that I didn’t have to furiously bank up videos for my upcoming heat.

I was sure my mum would be delighted if she knew her antics had helped set me on a new, happier career direction. The account I had restricted — who had to be the alpha my mum had asked for help — hadn’t caused any more trouble. But I assumed they both knew I hadn’t stopped posting.

I hoped they invested in some good headphones.

I lay curled in my nest one night with all three of them. Aleks snoring behind me after a long shift, Remy reading a book and Ben squeezing in a cuddle before he had night duty.

Despite the cosiness of our embrace, anxiety stole the warmth of it away. I could sense its churning energy woven through us, most of it emanating from Ben.

“You’re worried,” I said, skimming his cheek with the lightest touch. His chocolate scent was brittle, bitter. The right amount of pressure and it would snap.

“Of course I’m worried,” Ben said heavily. “All we have to go off is second hand information from your dad. Not enough to go to the authorities. But enough to feel like we always have to look over our shoulder and always have one of us with you.”

“I don’t mind that, you know. I understand why.” I had to lift his chin so he would look at me. “I won’t do anything stupid like run off on my own.”

I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. He didn't return it.

“I’m sorry,” I said in a small voice.

That lit a fire under him. “Don’t you dare,” he said fiercely. “None of this is your fault, Hazel.”

Remy put his bookmark in with a heavy sigh. “Is she blaming herself for the actions of some very shitty people?”

“Yep,” Ben confirmed.

I don’t know what I was expecting him to do but rolling over and booping me on the nose with the corner of his book wasn’t on the list. “That’s silly, pumpkin.”

“You know, I’m actually looking forward to therapy with Kerry tomorrow,” I said suddenly.

Remy blinked. “Wow, I didn’t realise you would hate ‘pumpkin’ that much.”

“She is clearly not referring to that.” Ben elbowed him before turning to me. “That’s great, Hazel.”

Ben probably thought I wanted to talk about everything going on with my mum.

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