Page 94 of Scheme
I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
The next time I woke up, I was lucid.
And sticky.
So very sticky.
Kit snored softly next to me, and I carefully extricated myself from his grip, letting him sleep. I doubted I’d been so considerate in the worst of my heat—the poor guy was probably exhausted.
Silently, I snuck out of the nest, tiptoeing down the hallway to the bathroom, cringing at the trail of our combined fluids left with each step. Heat with a partner was even messier than heat alone.
A little gift basket tied with a blue bow sat on the bathroom counter, and I was filled with a rush of affection for Violet. Who knew what she’d heard when she’d stopped by, but I didn’t feel embarrassed, particularly. I’d been their support person for her last few heats, and they were frankly so open and constantly attached to each other that it hadn’t seemed that different from the way they usually were.
As much as I wanted to take advantage of the face mask I could see in the basket, getting clean was a higher priority. I turned the shower on as hot as I could manage it, bracing myself against the tile wall with one hand as I got in and let the water wash away the evidence of the past few days.
Well, most of it.
My free hand rubbed absently at the mating mark that I hadn’t quite gathered the courage to look at yet, my heart pounding in my chest.
I was claimed.
It was heady and incredible. And more than a little overwhelming.
The day I’d gone into heat had been intense, from the moment I’d woken up in that hotel room, hot and sticky, to the moment I’d gone into my nest, also hot and sticky.
The memories of that day came to me in broken bits and pieces as I washed cum out of my hair, and I made a mental note to call Asher later and check that he was okay before arranging his interview at Sutton-Harris.
There was a sudden spark of warmth in my chest that made me gasp, and I realised it was the bond. Kit must have woken up, and the bond had come online accordingly.
It was a strange, beautiful feeling that would definitely take some getting used to.
There was a small frisson of panic in my chest that without the sweetness of my pre-heat scent, Kit might not… like what he saw.
And I was annoyed with myself for even contemplating it. I was more than the sum of my myriad of issues, and I was choosing to believe that when Kit told me he loved me, he meant it.
Right?
Right.
I blew out a long breath, grabbed the soap and scrubbed until my skin was pink and raw.
The bathroom door swung open, and I jumped, dropping my loofah on the shower floor in surprise.
“Kit?”
He didn’t say a word, just stalked into the shower, crowding me against the wall and pressed his lips to mine.Oh, I thought vaguely, gripping his forearms.I guess he’s still in rut.
By the time we broke apart, we were both breathing heavily, and I waited for Kit to hoist me up against the shower wall and fill me with his knot again.
I was a little sore, but definitely not opposed to the idea.
“Don’t fucking do that; you scared me to death,” Kit said eventually, letting out a heavy sigh and kissing me on the forehead. “Just wake me up before you get out of the nest next time. I won’t mind.”
I blinked a few times, scanning his face.
“Are you… are you not in rut?”
Kit frowned. “No. Are you still in heat?” I shook my head. “Oh, good. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I really need to eat, and I’m sure you do. After we get this shampoo out of your hair,” he added, lips tilting up into the most delicious half-smile. I’d been washing my hair?
