Page 54 of The Heat of Us

“Yeah, um…no. I don’t take those.”

“Y-you have a, um—”

“A heat partner. Yes. I-I think you’ve met him? The alpha I work with.”

“Ah. I remember.”

This was exactly what I wanted to be discussing with him. Suppressants and being knotted for days on end.

“Can I have your number?” I asked impulsively.

His jaw went slack. “What?”

“I don’t like that I went so long without being able to check in on you,” I said simply.

His face was a little more flushed when we finished putting our details in each other’s phones. “My shift starts soon,” Aleks said, pointing at the lobby with his thumb.

“Oh. Of course. Sorry for keeping you.”

“You weren’t.” I finally got my first true smile from him and it felt like a gift.

I’m not sure what came over me but when Aleks turned to go back inside, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him down for a hug. His stubble was rough on my cheek and my nose instinctively went up into his neck.

The desperate itch beneath my skin and rising warmth beneath my breastbone cooled in an instant. He was icy, a bracing wind and still blue water as far as the eye could see.

I must’ve been extra sensitive to scents as I got closer to my heat.

“Everything will be ok,” I whispered.

I didn’t say it to reassure him or to offer an empty platitude. I breathed like a wish, wanting to manifest it for him.

I think he understood because he gave me a stiff nod in reply before heading inside first. I avoided Jesse’s nosy glances between the two of us and hopped into the elevator.

My phone buzzed a few times on the ride up. I knew who it had to be. I hadn’t been as responsive to Ben’s texts all day and could tell he was aware of it.

Ben

I know I’m an alpha now and supposed to be all manly but my hair is growing back and that makes me really happy

don’t judge me

A selfie came through. He had a slightly goofy closed-mouth smile and a thumbs up. And yes, his hair was certainly on its way back, dark and swooping up from his forehead.

I laughed despite myself and couldn’t stop myself from touching his cheek through my screen.

I think you look great

Ben

Ok something is definitely wrong, you were supposed to say something to crush my self esteem.

I had been avoiding telling him that I was going into heat. I liked the bubble we had created. But it could no longer wait.

You might not hear from me for a few days. My heat is coming.

I’m sorry, Ben.

I was sorry for a lot of things, none of which I had the courage to name. I muted our chat immediately after.

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