Page 68 of Knotting Autumn

It took a moment for me to tell. Closing my eyes, I felt that warm, comforting bond connecting us, and turned into what I could sense of Sawyer. He was asleep, so things were peaceful, except for a needy, lusty feeling emanating through our bond.

“That’s weird,” I said. “He feels like he’s horny. Maybe he’s having a sexy dream.”

“That’s what I was worried about,” Thorne said, his exhale hissing through his teeth.

“That Sawyer was having a sex dream, really?” I said, bracing my hands on my hips. “Weird thing to worry about, but okay.”

“No. He’s feverish. I felt his skin when I woke up and it was way too hot. He’s going into heat. We need to get you away from here.”

“Woah, woah,” I said, pressing my palms against his stomach. His abs flexed under my hands, and a thrill rushed through me that I stubbornly ignored. “Explain.”

“Did we discuss heats? Yeah, we did. There’s so much to explain. I don’t even know where to start,” Thorne said, dragging his hand through his hair. “Let’s go for a walk and talk. I need to get you away from Sawyer before it affects you.”

After retrieving jackets and shoes from the cabin, Thorne held me steady while I shoved my feet into my sneakers. His hands were blazing hot on my skin, and I wanted them all over me. I almost whined when he released me and took my hand.

Through the window, I could see Sawyer’s sleeping form. He rolled over and threw his arm over his head. Even through the hazy glass, I could see a flush on his already ruddy skin.

“Ready?” Thorne asked.

Despite not knowing what the hell was going on, I trusted my fated mate. Hand in hand, we descended the stairs and strolled past his truck.

“Okay, please break this down for me. I remember you guys saying a heat was something that would happen to me, and it was when I could get pregnant. Which is still freaking me out, by the way.”

Leaves crunched under our feet as Thorne considered his words. “Yes, it happens twice a year, roughly. And typically, your mate or mates will go into rut, which is a hormonal response to your heat. We’ll mate over and over, giving you the best chance of getting pregnant.”

“That sounds…” I bit my lip. “Like a lot.”

“It’s intense, from what I’ve seen. Eventually we will get to experience that,” he said, taking a pause to smile at me.

“So how could it be happening to Sawyer?”

We took a few more steps.

“We don’t exactly take a class on this, and I’m not trained as a healer or anything. And I’ve never seen this happen, so I’m going off hearsay.”

He was dancing around his answer, and I had the sudden urge to bite him. I could climb him and close my teeth around his neck and—

“Autumn, are you really okay?”

I blinked, pulled out of my fantasy. Clearing my throat, I squinted at him. “Just tell me, Thorne.”

“Males can also go into a version of heat in certain circumstances. Especially where the fated mate bond isn’t accepted and fulfilled, despite being in close contact. I think being under a huge amount of stress plays a role too.”

“Exactly like Sawyer and Cole,” I summarized.

“It’s so much for the body to handle, and the hormones go crazy. I guess technically it’s rut, but it's proactive instead of reactive. If that makes sense.”

My feet stumbled to a halt, images of Sawyer and Cole together flooding my mind. I was desperate to know if I was correct. “So what does this mean, in practical terms?”

“My best guess?” Thorne gave me an apologetic shrug. “He’s going to be super horny and desperate for sex for two or three days, maybe longer.”

My thoughts were sluggish, that needy feeling in my gut growing by the second. Through sheer willpower, I focused on the problem we faced. We needed solutions.

“Does it have to be with Cole? Because I don’t think he’s ready for that,” I said, wrapping my arms around my middle.

“I don’t want you getting between them,” Thorne said sharply. “They’ll be frenzied. And if you are too close to Sawyer, it’s likely to set off a pseudo-heat in you. And then we’re really in trouble.”

“Oh,” I said. “So, what would that be like?”