an

t leaking through the curtains. My body f

came at

Mum's voice sang, and

After brushing my teeth and pulling my ha

arcus and Mum. The first thin

. "So, if you've forgotten, the heat period's starting. Marcus a

eat p

and our bodies demanded what our hearts might not be ready to give. It wa

re usually mild, just a little restlessn

had a mate. And not just any mate-he

this time, but I had a feelin

e and whispered, "Ou

him a

etween us. "You two

grin. "We're getting along just fine." He stoo

d his ha

leaving her in your care,

replied and

eady," Marcus said, signaling

er expression softe

Mum. You should enjoy

The heat period can be... messy. Since you haven't found

always?"

eek, and pulled me into on

t be waiting," I said, muf

little

aned, and she

e good, alrigh

ve yo

the house felt

"Good morning, Miss," o

, h

ld you li

ything'

and b

'll w

ck, mI need

no

s and a black shirt, tied my hair into

when I

perched on the couch, and an

the

nore the noise. I sat and started eating, pretending not

to leave-but as I passed behind him, my hand

e. "What

bled off his l

aid sweetly. "Didn'

h that knowing look.

nt to drop the glass back in the

tle drama for?" he

? I wo

loser. "Don'

even started the mating proces

en did you accept w

did

rked.

ck to your girlfriend?" I

she's my g

me play toy? Another

dropping. "What do you

e girl's voice called

nce is requested," I s

nd shut the door behin

feel so.

e-watch something

ns, grabbed my iPad

*

ked my phone again,

flashed on

he said when I answered, her

en one d

re," she said, and I coul

ogram, and somehow she got me to open up. Of course, she di

m sorry I didn'

family? And that Ivan you

rything's weird. I

the start of a f

stepbroth

t all the more

ane," I sai

Tell me,

n't k

's defini

ue

on't miss the

out me. Ho

you-and I have a

t's

l tell y

u can't

will," she sa

y fu

later. I have

Take

too,

ua

, and I walked

was o

he p

ry movement sharp, confident. I didn't me

own his chest, the light ca

n-he lo

eyes

ught. My che

curtain and ex

just as I was about

but answe

ou missed me alr

hatter. "I'm at the grocery store and there's this guy who won't stop

alled me to be yo

Be useful

The au

cute and all, but you know me. Eye contact equals a

unbeli

swer, a soft knock

her, not ending th

door, the words

rops of water trailing down his chest. I blinked, and for a split second, my brain

purred in my head,

. "What do you w

on't get to sound so feisty, not

s. "Don't flatte

tself. "But it's not flattery, ginger," he whisper

and I could smell his scent

your doors," he said, tone shifting slightly. "The heat p

off for a moment.

t, gi

e my heart could emba

my GOD! His voice! It sounded so raspy and sex

movies are already starti

tion was totally hea

wasn

was! Wait, what did he say about locking y

im being a j

Okayyy, goodnight. The wei

ye

ssed my phone aside. My

o ignore it, one thought

h