I put my hands in my lap, my body burning with sudden need. If this pre-heat felt like this… I couldn’t imagine how intense the real heat would be.
“How long before my heat starts?” I asked.
Cassius shrugged. “Since it’s off-season, it could be a week… maybe longer. Could even be a month. Hard to tell.”
“A month?” I nearly shouted. “How am I supposed to wait that long?”
He gave a small, calm shrug. “It’s your first heat. We’ll get through it. And after… if you don’t want me, I’ll respect that.”
I couldn’t promise how I’d feel about anyone after my heat. But right now… I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Cassius had always been kind to me. That made me imagine him as more than a protector—maybe someone gentle, patient… maybe even a good lover. My chest tightened just thinking about it.
