“Bridget, did you take your suppressants?” Alena spoke over Simon as he began asking Lucas a question.
My thighs quivered as the ache inside of me pulsed. “I…” I’d taken them. I know I had. Right? I had taken one at the store. How long ago was that?
“You have two choices, Bridget,” Simon began. "Either you let this heat cycle happen, or Lucas needs to go up and get your shot. It will only keep the heat at bay for a little while longer. It seems your body is demanding it since you just had a shot less than a month ago."
Did I want this to happen? "Lucas," I whined, unable to think past the sharp pains in my lower belly and between my thighs. "I I?—"
Lucas' eyes went wide, and he swallowed heavily. "I'll get the shot, baby."
Tears escaped my eyes as I sagged against him. I couldn't say it out loud, but he knew what I wanted. I didn't want to go into heat this quickly after our mating. I just wasn't ready.
Not yet.
I was so thankful Lucas saw what I tried to convey in my gaze.
"Please touch base with us later, Bridget." Worry laced Alena's tone.
"Okay," I replied, unable to get anything else out of my mouth as another wave of arousal swept through me.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." He rose from the chair with me in his arms and deposited me onto the couch. He refrained from kissing me. Thank fucking God. If he did, I was liable to tackle him. That was how desperate I was to have his cock inside me.
He was out of the living room and running up the stairs before I could act on my instincts.
My thighs quivered as slick drenched my panties and pants. Never before had the beginning of a heat taken me down so quickly. I was out of my mind, lustful sounds escaping my throat as I rolled over onto my side to breathe through the pain.
I was no stranger to pain. Before I escaped my parents, I'd been beaten regularly. Of course, not anywhere visible, but my father got good at being creative.
At least the thought of my family cooled my lust slightly.
Lucas returned, out of breath and holding an auto-injector in his hand. "Tell me where to give this to you?" His eyes were wide, clearly thrown off by the heat.
"Here," I said, lifting my shirt to expose my belly. I pointed to an area a few inches from my belly button and he tried to press the device there, but his hands were shaking too badly.
"Shit. Fuck. Cocksucker damn it." I'd never seen Lucas so flustered. He made jokes and danced around as he sang. He didn't curse in frustration like that.
"Lucas? Bridget?" Noah called from the kitchen. "Fuck me." He ran into the room, his eyes wide and a noticeable bulge in the front of his jeans.
"My hands are shaking too bad." Lucas looked back at Noah with panic-filled eyes. "Please. She wants to wait for her first heat."
I was rapidly descending to the point of no return, where I couldn't form full sentences, and my hormones ruled me. Yet, I managed to nod when Noah's warm eyes lifted to mine.
He rushed over and wrapped a large hand around Lucas'. Together, they steadied the injector enough to unlock and press the button. The needle penetrated my flesh, and the device hissed as it dispensed the much-needed medication.
The medication that would send this heat away.
As darkness descended over me, I wondered: How long would the shot work this time?
CHAPTER32
Lucas
Noah handed me a steaming mug of coffee as he returned to the living room. I accepted it with a nod and wrapped my hands around it, savoring the warmth. He'd carried Bridget up the stairs after she passed out, the heat passing and her body regulating out. We knew she'd be more comfortable in bed, and I desperately wanted to join her.
But I felt like this was my fault. I couldn't get the stupid injector ready. My hands shook so badly I couldn't hold it firmly to Bridget’s skin.
"It's okay, Lucas." Noah sat down on the couch next to me and placed a hand on my knee.
I was still shaking, and I was even more grateful for the cup of coffee to hide the trembling in my hands. "What if you hadn't come in when you did?"