Page 10 of Hayes

Relief flooded her when he returned, and she had no modesty whatsoever as he parted her legs wide and cleaned her folds with a warm wet cloth. He bent over her and kissed her forehead. “Ineed you to be brave for me while I take your temperature, Little one.”

She whimpered, not knowing why that required bravery.

He brushed locks of hair off her cheek. “I’m going to roll you onto your side, Rylee. The thermometer goes in your bottom.”

That got her attention. She opened her eyes and blinked at him, licking her lips. “Why?”

“That’s how it’s done, Little one. It’s more accurate than other types of thermometers. It will help Daddy know when it’s time for you to shift.”

She stared at him and then scrunched up her face.

He kissed her forehead again. “Be a good girl for me.”

Chapter Five

Hayes was stunned by how well his Little girl was reacting to this news. He’d heard tales of Littles nearly running from the room when they found out they were going to need to succumb to having their bottoms penetrated several times between consummation and their first shift.

Not Rylee. Nothing about her seemed to fit any mold. She’d been outside the norm from the moment he’d first met her gaze. She seemed to be more in tune with their mating itself. Even though she was clearly just as innocent as any other fated mate, she had a sense of what to expect every step of the way.

She’d been more than eager to have sex. Scared but not so much that she wilted at the thought. When she’d taken his cock into her mouth, he’d nearly fainted.

Now it was time to start preparing for her shift. As he rolled her to her side, it occurred to him that she was more lucid than he’d expected. She’d easily focused on him as he’d told her about the thermometer.

She fisted the pillow as he parted her bottom cheeks and only flinched a fraction when he stroked her tight hole with lubricant. She didn’t argue or complain. No tears.

When he lined the thermometer up with her entrance and eased it into her, she winced but said nothing.

“You’re doing so well, Little one.” Was she too compliant? Perhaps traumatized? Or worse, furious?

He leaned over her to see her face. Her lips were pursed, and she was holding her breath, but she didn’t look like she intended to stab him in his sleep.

“Breathe, Baby girl. The thermometer needs to stay inside you for a few minutes. You can’t hold your breath that long.” He stroked her temple, brushing away some of her gorgeous hair. Like most women, her hair had never been cut. It was tangled all around her in waves. He would enjoy brushing it and braiding it for the rest of his life.

“Breathe, Rylee,” he demanded when she didn’t comply the first time.

She shook her head.

He nearly chuckled. She didn’t mind the rod in her bottom, but asking her to breathe was too much? “Rylee…” he warned. He reached for her wrist and felt her pulse. It was rapid. Suddenly she reached up to pinch her nose before letting all the air out of her lungs and drawing in a new breath.

Confused, Hayes watched her return to holding her breath. Why? And what was with the nose pinching?

Shifting his attention to her bottom, he removed the thermometer and held it up. She was warm, but not overly so yet. Every shifter was different. Some mates only needed a few hours between consummation and their first shift. Others needed longer.

Hayes cleaned the thermometer and set it on the nightstand while his Little girl rolled to her back. She wasn’t concerned with her nudity, but she was still holding her breath.

He frowned and set his hands down on either side of her head. “Talk to me, Little one. Why aren’t you breathing?”

She finally gasped for oxygen. “Can we do it again?”

“Do what, Baby girl? Have sex?” His cock jumped to attention.

She nodded, her cheeks turning pink. “It’s so strong,” she murmured.

“What is, Little one?” He couldn’t begin to imagine what she was talking about.

“Your scent. It’s driving me crazy.” She reached for him. “Is it always like this?”

He furrowed his brow as he climbed over her. He wouldn’t deny her his cock. Never. And it was normal for mates to fuck several times during the transition period. But he’d never heard any discussion of being overly driven by scent. As a matter of fact, it seemed his mate had been extremely sensitive to his pheromones from the moment he’d entered the ceremonial building.