Page 35 of Empty Heat
Naked and damp, I emerged from the shower and plopped on top of my bedcovers. It was dark and cool in the bedroom, the air conditioning chuffing along. The air was sweet from the fresh bouquet of flowers by the window.
Slowly, I turned onto my belly. My body wanted to automatically bend into the mating pose, knees bent, chest flat on the mattress, ass up. It was stupid that my body still wanted that when it couldn’t provide access to an alpha without extreme pain to it.
But still, I curled into position, falling to the side when another heat flare went through me.
My cock throbbed. And I remembered the herbs.
I got up and padded naked into the kitchen, opening the fridge and snatching up the long, multidose pillbox labeled with instructions on each cap saying,Every four hours.
I grabbed a glass and some chilled water and took the handful from the first container. I wondered how long I’d have to wait to feel any effects.
I went into the living room and switched on the TV but didn’t watch it. Instead, I circled the couch and chairs like a caged panther.
Twenty-four hours of this. Kill me now.
I waited for the herbs to help but after half an hour I felt the same. I kept the lights off. All that allowed me to see was the TV flicker, the kitchen’s nightlight and some outside lights that turned the living room curtains pale white.
The bedroom was darker. I went in and felt my way around the bed to find my phone and checked the time. One-thirty-two a.m. I’d slept longer than I thought.
A huge wave of heat passed over me, making me wobble. I caught my balance on the edge of the bed and sat, leaning back a little. The herbs weren’t working.
I pulled up Rhodes’ cell number. I knew he’d be sleeping. I didn’t want to disturb him but that was what he was here for. To be disturbed. He’d told me over and over he was available to me all day and all night for whatever I needed.
I tapped the call logo.
He answered right away. “Callum. Are you all right?”
“Yes. But my heat is here.”
“Okay. Um, do you need anything?”
“No. I found the herbs in the fridge. But how long do they take to suppress anything?”
“Oh, about half an hour, I should say.”
“Nope.” I sighed heavily so he could hear it over the line.
“Oh. Sorry. Does your heat feel strong?”
“Yes.”
“More than usual?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear.”
I didn’t like his tone. “What?Nowwhat’s gone wrong?”
“In about one percent of omegas, the suppressants act in the opposite way.”
“You mean they increase the symptoms?”
“It’s very rare.” Rhodes sounded like he was fiddling with something.
“I don’t care if it’s rare or not. I’m not one to complain, ever, but why is everything going wrong for me? This is such a great place. You’ve been good to me, Rhodes. But I can’t help but feel I should never have come.”
“You have my heartfelt and sincere apology. Callum, are you sure you don’t want to begin the surrogacy now? I have someone in mind who would be very good to you. Not Soren.”
