Page 59 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
“Then how did you know?”
“The room has an, uh, the air …”
I buried my face in my hands, groaning.
“They go away for a bit once you finally give in,” she said, sounding thoughtful. “I guess because you’re doing it in real life so much. Then they come back. At least for me.”
“They do? What do you think that means?”
Anna shrugged. “I think I might be on the verge of having my first heat.”
“What?” I sat up straight, her arms falling away as the conversation shifted to her now, something I wasn’t upset about. “Already?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Caz and I are bonded now, though, so it was inevitable.”
I frowned. “Is this why you’ve been having those strange shivers and dizzy spells?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s all new to me.”
“Any other signs?”
“Just more ofthatfeeling,” she said knowingly. “In my dreams. During the day. All I want to do is touch him or havehim touch me. And the instant he does, I want more. Which is a lot, since I already wanted him every time I turned around.”
“We know,” I said, grateful for the chance to finally tease her back.
Anna laughed, swatting at me. “Hey, it’s not like you and Dirk are any different. You just don’t realize it.”
“We are not!” I protested, hoping it didn’t sound as weak as it felt.
“El, you’re always stealing looks at him when you think we aren’t watching. When he comes up in conversation, you always have a little smile on your face, like you’re in a daydream. Like right now.”
“I do not.”
“Hey, listen,” she said, sobering. “I just want you to be happy. I can see that he makes you happy. You might be blind to it, you might be uncomfortable admitting it, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t see it. We aren’t going to act oblivious just to put you at ease, El.”
I sat back against the headboard.
Do I really do all that? Is it so obvious to other people?
Although I had stopped fighting against things with Dirk entirely, maybe I was still trying to fight an imaginary war with myself to deny things I desired.
Could it be more like the dream instead, if I just let my guard down around him entirely?
My stomach tied itself into knots at the thought.
“Anyway, breakfast should be served soon. Take a shower, and come with me this morning.”
“Where are you going?”
“The old dungeons. Holly is down there with the other Grounded that have stuck around after they were rescued from the illegal market when Caz was looking for you guys. It’s been too long since I’ve visited them, and if Idogo to into heat soon, I’ll be shut in Caz’s quarters for who knows how long.”
“Getting your brains scrambled,” I teased.
“Damn right. And once you finally cave, you’re going to be mighty upset you spent so long denying yourself the amazingness that is being bent over by your mate.”
I gaped at her bluntness, but she just laughed and pushed me off the bed toward the bathroom.
With enough chivvying, I got into the shower. The water poured over my body, erasing the remnants of erotic dream and nightmare at the same time.
