Page 19 of Jockstraps & Newspapers

"I'm staying forever." Cass blushed like a child stuck with their hands in the cookie jar as Mrs. Bonesaw barked out a laugh. Clapping Cass on the shoulders, she nodded and motioned for her to come further into the kitchen.

Elliot offered her his arm, leaning in, "Sorry if she's a bit much. Mom's a hugger."

"It's fine," Cass wheezed under her breath. "How does everyone know my name?"

"When I called the shop to tow your car, basically spread like wildfire." Elliot grimaced as he pulled out a chair at the table.

The Bonesaw family house was a block behind the garage.

A two-story house full of windows and painted the same dark blue as the shop.

The front door was used as the back door, and the back door opened directly into the kitchen.

The kitchen was a roller coaster of levels.

Many of the counters were down low where Mrs. Bonesaw could reach, but there were heavy duty shelves used as counters much higher up, where Mr. Bonesaw might use them.

Pots and pans floated on a copper chandelier of kitchen utensils.

The fridge was a massive box covered in artwork and polaroids.

Cass stopped to stare. Images of the boys as tiny little things in swimming trunks by the lake, a kitchen full of people around a baby Elliot blowing out candles, and other of boys wrestling their dad while trying to take him down.

The one at the center was Mrs. Bonesaw in a cap and gown, holding up her healers robes while her three boys gave big thumbs up to the camera.

Now, she wanted to cry.

Her parents didn't keep a single polaroid. There were no family photos on the walls. There's no time for silly things like that. Her heart sank.

"Cassie?" Elliot nudged her slightly. She ripped away from the fridge, facing him at the table. He took a hold of her knotted fingers on top of the table and squeezed. "Remember, grass looks greener, doesn't mean it is."

She bit back saying, 'that's easy for you to say' as she stared at Mr. Bonesaw as he sat down at the table. "So, Elliot, how’s… ball sports treating you?"

Ouch. Even Cass knew the name of the sport, and she didn't know about it before she met Elliot. He grimaced, "Uh, it's… it's good. We're starting scrimmages soon, and before you know it—it'll be game time."

"Fuck yeah!" Rex cheered, flopping down into a seat.

"Language!" Mrs. Bonesaw barked.

"Sorry, Ma!" Rex apologized with a goofy, lopsided grin. "Big Elle's gonna smash some heads this season, right? Show those other teams who's boss!"

Elliot's face was pinched between painful and faking pride. "Yeah, you know, it's my last season, I start coaching next year, so I'm more just focusing on getting my team ready to handle the season without me."

"Uh-huh, that's nice—Honey, you want help?" Mr. Bonesaw left the table, sauntering across the kitchen.

Green grass. Cass flipped her hands, entangling her fingers with Elliot's.

He returned his big, lovely gaze to her and the warmth of his smile reached his eyes.

She squeezed his hand with a wink. Elliot blushed, she could see it in the way he ducked his head slightly, glancing away.

The fur didn't change color, nor did she see any physical signs.

But his shoulders slouched and he stared at the wood on the table.

Cass opened her mouth to say something when Jessie plopped down across from her.

"So, Cassie, what's a place like you doing in a pretty field like that? "

She choked on her own tongue, sputtering with laughter. "What?"

"Nailed it," Jessie beamed, sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head.

"Oh, Elliot nailed—" Rex was cut short by a massive arm wrapped around his head and he was pulled into a chokehold courtesy of Elliot.

Cass gasped for air, tears welling up in her eyes from the ache in her sides. "Ow, please, it hurts."

"Elliot! You've got to be more gentle next time!" Jessie gasped with faux scandal.

"I'll show you gentle." Elliot lunged over the table only to have both parents swoop in and slap everyone, minus Cass, upside the head.

"Really, boys? At the table? While we have a guest?" Mrs. Bonesaw huffed. The dwarvish woman put a massive casserole dish at the center, steaming and bubbling full of lasagna. Mr. Bonesaw put a basket of bread, jars of herbs and seasonings, and a massive wooden bowl full of salad on the table.

Cass sat back, letting the family fight over who got corner pieces and who should cut the pasta.

In the end, Mr. Bonesaw cut and divvied up the delicious, lava pasta while Mrs. Bonesaw got everyone a helping scoop of mixed salad.

Elliot passed Cass a breadstick the size of her face.

Everything smelled divine. Rex immediately dove into the food, Jessie giving it a moment to cool off.

Mr. Bonesaw broke off his bread stick, biting into it before asking, "So, what do you do, Cassie? Are you on the team with Elliot?

"Oh no, I don't know anything about sports.

I work for King's Falls Daily , I'm writing an article on Elliot and the team for the season.

" She took a bite of the sharply dressed salad on her plate.

The vinegar bit back, the lettuce was fresh with shaved carrots, peppers, and flaky cheese that was melt in the mouth.

It was delightful and made her shiver slightly.

"Why?" Mr. Bonesaw stared at her with bewilderment.

"Cause he's like everyone's favorite? And he's about to be coach next year?

It's a really important stage in his career.

" She eyed him back, a defense tone rising in her words.

Her hackles rose on the back of her neck.

What do you mean, why? Even she knew why, and despite her begrudging feelings at the beginning, she wasn't about to let anyone talk down about her soon-to-be article or the minotaur it was about.

Banging him or not, coming from his father?

That dismissive tone was an issue. At least her parents approved of their children's occupations.

Whatever paid the bills, her father used to say.

Whatever skills you got, make money from them, her mother used to repeat that over and over till Cass could hear it in her sleep.

"My baby's gonna be famous," Mrs. Bonesaw sighed dreamily. "Elliot, be a good boy and make sure I get a copy of the paper with your face on it."

"Of course, Ma." Elliot and Cass shared a knowing look.

She dropped it, letting the conversation fade to something about the shop.

They shared silent looks the whole night, nudging each other back and forth with their elbows while the rest of the table talked.

Especially when she realized there was a more pressing issue hidden under the tablecloth.

Right, his Heat. It'd almost slipped her mind until he spread his arm along the back of her chair and gripped her shoulder tight. His touch was like an inferno, steaming her clothing. She leaned toward him, "Should we go?"

"If we leave before finishing dinner, she'll murder me," he laughed under his breath. "I'm alright."

She glanced down to the tented lap he shifted to hide from her.

Cassie returned to her lasagna, keeping her attention on Elliot despite her gaze being on the people around the table.

Every shift, tense muscle, and heavy breath from him.

It was strange to think that only a few short hours ago she'd just…

accepted it. Elliot was in Heat. He wanted her.

He liked her. Her stomach twisted up in knots.

The sex had been amazing. She'd never felt so passionate about any person to let them smoosh her into the backseat of a car.

But there was something about Elliot Bonesaw that made her forget every sensible thought in her head.

Her cheeks burned in memory. My girl. Even while Jessie asked about the interview and SportsBall, or Rex got into an argument with Mr. Bonesaw, she could hear Elliot say it.

My girl . There he went again, tangling up her emotions and making her want him.

How was she ever going to write an objective, unbiased article now?

Then, he breathed in her ear and set her whole body on fire, "Your place or mine? "

The idea of lovely but analytical Lily listening to the dulcet sounds of her screaming Elliot's name…and whatever else came out of her mouth…was not ideal. Lily would never let her live it down. Cass laughed sheepishly, "Your place."

Elliot helped her out from the dinner table, using her almost as a cock shield from his parents as they excused themselves. Her heart hammering in her chest as the heavy weight of him was pressed against her backside. "We should get back, Cass has work to do."

"Oh! Elle, we still on for noon tomorrow?" Jessie cocked his head.

"Absolutely!" Elliot wheezed with sheepish laughter, "Wouldn't miss it, I'll call you in the morning."

"Tight!" Jessie leaned over, offering his knuckles to Elliot.

The brother's knocked fists together before the pair ducked out the kitchen door and into the night.

Cassiopeia was sure of one thing…and that it was she was terribly horny and she didn't want to wait till they got back to his place. Elliot seemed of the same mind, as they got ten steps away from the house, and he grabbed her. On the street, where only a single streetlight worked, the whole street engulfed in the pitch black of night. A ten-foot tall, wooden privacy fence ran the length of their house and a whole lot beside the house. She could see the tops of trucks and other big vehicles houses beyond the oak fence planks. Pinned against his parents’ fence, he kissed her with the ferocity of a touch starved person.

Fuck if she didn't kiss him back just as hard.

Cassie grabbed a hold of his face, ready to climb him like a tree. Elliot groaned against her mouth.

"I'm not gonna make it back to my place." His cock was already pressed between her thighs. Elliot pulled back and glanced at a pad locked gate to the side of his parents’ house. "Does my girl feel adventurous?"

"You're not breaking in, are you?" she hissed. He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. He leaned over and opened the padlock without much more than a simple flick of his wrist. "What's in there?"

"Plenty of trunks to bend you over."

Giddy excitement and an uncontrollable desire pumped through her. "You had better keep me quiet or the whole neighborhood is gonna know you're in Heat."

He grinned, ripped her from the front of the fence and into the car graveyard.