Page 53 of Free for Adventure
“Um, why?”
“I know those butterflies, I am those butterflies, but they are next to the manta ray and twining up the falls before flying free. I know you will be my primary lover if we form a union. I am not into men if I am not in heat.”
“Oh, so, you are here because...”
“I went into a heat when I lived in the village, and it turned into a free-for-all, but I fought getting marked. The alphas involved wrote apologies, but I decided distance was what I needed. So, Kekoa made me butterfly guardian, and here, I have stayed.”
“How often are your heats?”
“There are plants around here that make them easier.” He stroked her back. “I am no longer mindless and crying.”
“Oh, good. The restriction and constant pain kept me from kicking into a full heat.”
He frowned. “Are you in pain now?”
“No.”
“Good. How long has it been since you have felt like yourself?”
“Since they removed the stitches? Six weeks.”
“You smell like your cycle is close.”
“How close?”
“Pretty close.” He chuckled. “A few days, if that. Can’t you tell?”
“No. I can smell food and flowers but am generally nose blind.”
“Oh, that will be interesting.” He kissed her and whispered, “Just a minute.”
He moved away, and she shivered as air moved across the sweat on her skin.
Exoval came back and had a black cuff on his wrist. “Here. Let’s see what this does.”
He bounced back onto the bed, his erection bouncing as he settled next to her. He touched her hand and stroked his fingers across his cuff, grinning.
She watched as a band that had black and rainbow hues moved across her white cuff. A small message came as Pack complete.
She looked at her cuff in surprise. “Wait. Is that what it was doing?”
He chuckled. “Tourists think that the cuffs are a cute way that they can interact with the locals. We know that it is to match us with mainlanders who might have characteristics we might vibe with. We get a financial bonus for kissing a few frogs, and they get a story they can barely remember when they leave.”
“What?”
“The cuffs disperse memory. Well, the normal ones do. I have never seen one like yours before.”
“Violet made it, and Ahheel had it behind the counter in her boutique.” She flexed her hand.
He grinned. “Come on. More cuddling then I will feed you.”
“Wait. Cuddling or omega cuddling?”
He chuckled. “I can’t wait to find out myself.”
She blinked. “Hey, a price just came up on my cuff.”
He nodded. “I am not surprised.”