Page 4 of Heatwaves

While humans know about supernaturals, we don’t usually invite them to learn about our mating rituals. The only time humans tend to show up is if they’re mated or married to a female whale shifter who is looking for additional men to help her through her heat.

If we decide to mate or marry just one person, we still have to seek out others for our heats. It’s very hard for just one person to keep up with us during that time. We need sexconstantly.

“No.” Aidan shakes his head but doesn’t elaborate.

My eyes narrow as I continue to watch him. I feel like he’s teasing me by not telling me what he is.

Ty laughs, voice quiet, when he tells me, “He’s a walrus.”

I can’t help the smile that forms as I glance between him and Aidan, glee running through me. “Really? I’ve never met a walrus shifter before. How does a walrus shifter end up hanging out with a bunch of whale shifters?” I pause. “Wait, the rest of you are whale shifters, right?”

“We are.” Carter laughs. “My dad married Aidan’s mom when we were kids, so he’s always been around.”

“That’s really cool. At least you’re still an ocean shifter, so you swim together.” Grinning, I wrack my brain to figure out what else to talk to them about. I don’t want to go back to dealing with the idiots. But let’s be real, my people skills are rough. I’d rather curl up with a good book than deal with people, but there’s something about this group of men that makes me want to keep talking to them.

“Hopefully, I won’t set you off when I ask this question.” Carter grins, waiting until I look over at him before continuing, “If you don’t want to be here, why are you here?”

I roll my eyes with a sigh. “My mom. She wouldn’t let up, telling me I’d regret it if I didn’t find men to help me through my first heat.”

My face warms as I realize what I’ve just admitted to them—not that they couldn’t have figured it out. Obviously, they had to have known that I’m here because of my heat, but it’s also kind of embarrassing to talk about it with four hot men who I just met. And the fact that I just admitted that it’s my first one?

Ugh, kill me now.

“Oh, your first one?” That wicked grin makes another appearance on Aidan’s face, and I can’t help the way my thighs clench asheat rushes through me. It makes me wonder what else he can do with that mouth.

Get it together, Lila.

“I hear those are the most fun.”

I shrug. “I wouldn’t know.”

Gods, could my face get any redder?

I squeeze my eyes shut as I try to will away my blush, silence falling around me. Someone clears their throat before I hear Ty ask quietly, “So what kind of whale are you?”

Thankful for the change of subject, I open my eyes and focus on Ty. “A beluga. What about you?”

“Narwhal.” Now it’s his turn to blush as his eyes drop to his lap, where his fingers tap rapidly against his legs.

“You’re a freaking unicorn,” I blurt.

Holy hell, Lila. Seriously?

Oliver bursts out laughing, falling over when he shoves at Ty’s shoulder. “I fucking told you!”

I glance from Oliver to the other three men, confused.

“Oliver always calls me a unicorn.” Ty won’t meet my eyes.

“I love unicorns.”

Why am I this way?

Can I get any more awkward? Obviously, the answer to that is yes, but I wish I could stop saying stupid, embarrassing things in front of these men.

Maybe I should just get up and walk away now before it gets any worse.

“See, Ty, I told you that women would dig the fact that you’re a fucking narwhal,” Aidan tells him before turning back to me. “He gets embarrassed that his form is smaller than Oliver and Carter’s whales, but he’s still bigger than me—well, at least longer.”

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