Redson Read online

  “When you got all hot and bothered.” She glanced up and down his body. “I’m surprised she didn’t scream. You probably scared her because of your size, and with the fact you’re not being human. Has she figured out you’re just a big pussy cat with claws yet?”

  “I resent that.”

  She laughed. “Puppy dog then, with fangs. Better?”

  “Much.”

  “Why are you here instead of home impressing her?”

  “You could say her name.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Okay. Why aren’t you with Emma? Don’t tell me you need pointers on how to seduce a woman. I’m sure humans aren’t that much different from our kind. Just avoid going all feral on her ass. The hair sprouting and snarling would probably be too much for her to handle.”

  “I wasn’t stocked up properly at my den. I need supplies.”

  “Say no more.” She turned away, going into the back.

  Red reached over and picked up her store phone, dialing the number he knew by heart. He dreaded the call but it would take Peva some time to bag up what he’d need.

  “Yes?” The familiar voice answered on the second ring.

  “Hello,” he got out. A lump formed in his throat. He hated to end their friendship but he was pretty certain the conversation would go that way.

  “Red.” She paused. “Is it true?”

  “That would depend on what you’ve heard, Cavasia.”

  “You and a human are sharing your den?”

  “She needed my help.”

  “Does this change things between us?”

  “It does.”

  “I see.” She paused. “I just wanted to know. Thank you for calling.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m sorry about this.”

  “It’s fine, Red. I don’t love you. We had fun and I enjoyed our time together. I just wish you’d told me before I had to hear it from someone else. That was rude.”

  “It was unexpected. I only met her yesterday.”

  “You know my number when you grow bored of a human. I might still be lonely, but there’s someone I’ve been curious about for a while. I think I’ll approach him.”

  “I wish you the best.”

  “Thank you.” She ended the call.

  He hung up. Peva strolled out of the back with two bags. She placed them on the counter. “I’ll bill your account. I put in some chocolate. Humans love that crap.”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “Me. It’s too sweet.” She reached inside the left bag and grinned. “And these.” She showed him the large box of condoms. “Humans can get pregnant. Try to avoid that until you’re sure she’s your mate. That would be awkward if she’s not.”

  “That’s not funny.” He grabbed the box from her and laid them on the counter. “Thank you, but they aren’t needed.”

  “You want to get her pregnant or is it that time of the month? Does she need pads?”

  “No. She’s on something to prevent that from happening.”

  “She can still get pregnant. You know that, right? It’s almost that time of year and who knows how long she’ll be here. You go into heat and it can void human birth control.” She picked up the condoms and put them back inside the bag. “Better to be prepared and safe. Keep them.”

  “It’s not that time for me.”

  “It could be if she’s your mate. It happens. Your body goes all haywire and bam. You’re suddenly in heat. Especially if you’re insecure about whether she’ll agree to accept you. You’ve got too much Lycan in you, Red. It will bite you in the ass. You know how tricky instincts and hormones can be. That part of you will make certain it can claim her any way it can, including planting a little Red baby in her belly.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I remember the talk about sex and our nature.”

  “You’d better clue your little human’ish in on it.”

  “Use her name and stop calling her that.”

  Peva grinned and leaned toward him until she stopped inches from his face. “Emma is your mate, you dumbass. So damn protective, and demanding I acknowledge her? Sure signs. Go.” She pulled back. “I accepted the others. She’d better not fuck up by refusing to mate you. Little sis is also protective. I hate when you guys get hurt.”

  He lifted the bags in his arms. “I’ll see you soon. Tell your mate I said hello and he still has my sympathy. You’re such a brat.”

  The sound of her laugher followed him outside. He hurried his pace. He wanted to get back to Emma, worried that she really was going into heat. No amount of cold water would help with the fever if that were the case—but he could.

  * * * * *

  Emma felt as if she wanted to die. She groaned, rolling over to lie on her stomach. She couldn’t get comfortable on Red’s bed no matter what position she tried. Her muscles ached and she was running a fever. She’d probably caught some nasty flu bug while traveling. Planes and buses were notorious for that. She rarely got sick but when she did, it was always bad.

  She softly cursed aloud, knowing that was bullshit.

  As much as she wished otherwise…she’d gone into heat.

  No cold or flu had ever made her feel as horrible as she did at that moment. Red’s pheromones had done a number on her body. She just hoped it didn’t last long, since she had no clue how to make it stop. Her grandfather wasn’t there to share a little of his blood to cure her. She wasn’t even sure if that would work.

  Stomach cramps had her groaning and rolling again, curling into a ball on her side. She fisted the soft blankets. Maybe Red had the ability to end her heat by donating some blood. She didn’t know if it would be rude or considered taboo to ask him to help that way.

  She kept the heavy blankets off to avoid sweating. Red’s den was normally chilly, so she knew it was her body making it seem as if she’d suddenly been shoved into a sauna. Forty years, and now she’d gone into some kind of Lycan heat cycle. She’d never been around Werewolves. It must have been a dormant trait until Red hit her with his pheromones.

  “And they put humans down, while Lycans have all this funky shit going on,” she muttered. “This is so messed up.”

  Sudden noise alerted her that Red had returned. She didn’t call out to him, but she didn’t need to. His loud snarl let her know he was already aware of her distress.

  “Hang on, Emma,” he called out, his tone harsh. “Let me put this stuff in the fridge. I’m coming.”

  She tried to just breathe, focusing on pushing air in and out of her lungs. It helped with the pain a little. Red slammed things around in the kitchen. It seemed to take forever but it was probably only two minutes before he came to her.

  “Damn,” he growled. “I’m here.”

  She turned her head and forced her eyes open. Red tore at his shirt, removing it. His eyes were glowing golden, and she almost hoped he would take control of her mind to put her into a deep sleep.

  “You’re in full-blown heat.”

  “I was hoping it was the flu but I knew that was wishful thinking.” She stifled a whimper. Her body felt as if it was being cooked from the inside out. “It’s no longer a mystery why they call it heat. I’m burning up.”

  He bent, tearing off his shoes to get his pants off. “I know it’s hell.”

  He straightened and stripped completely nude. She glimpsed how hard his cock was for a split second before he crawled onto the bed with her. He paused inches away, his gaze locked with hers when she looked at his face.

  “Roll onto your back for me.”

  “I can’t.” She didn’t want to move. It was agony. The fetal position on her side helped but not by much. It was the most comfortable one out of all the positions she’d tried.

  Red nodded and eased closer, until he curled around her back. His big, firm body pressed tight against her skin made her feel less alone, and helped her focus more on him than the pain. He caressed her hip and lifted his head until his cheek brushed hers.

  “I shouldn’t have left you.”

  “We ne