Page 40 of Rhett

Imani answered, “Maybe it’s to see how much bullshit both the man and woman can take before realizing they belong together.”

I loaded up another tortilla. “That sounds like more drama than I’m up for. Honestly, y’all, I’m not interested in Rhett.” I took a bite of the succulent pork. “Or being his fated mate.”

“Famous last words,” Nyx said. “Until the mating heat starts.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Imani agreed.

I choked on my mouthful of food. “Mating heat?”

Imani and Nyx slapped my back.

“You okay?” they both asked while I chugged water.

“Yes,” I replied. “Go on about the mating heat.”

“It’s when a female becomes highly sexually receptive to her mate,” Imani answered. “Signaling him she’s ready for mating.”

“Basically, the couple has sex until the heat haze goes away.” Nyx waggled her eyebrows. “Imani says it’s exhausting but very satisfying.”

Imani grinned. “Sure is.”

“So you fuck until one of you taps out?”

Nyx and Imani laughed.

“Nova, it’s not just about sex,” Nyx said. “Even though shifters love to fuck.”

“We do,” Imani chimed in with a waggle of her eyebrows. “A lot. It’s been over two years since Quinn and I were mated, and we’re still going at it like rabbits. And when I’m in heat, we go at it nonstop for days.”

“Days?” I squeaked.

“Typically,” Imani said. “But it depends on the female.”

I rubbed my forehead. “Sounds like sex aerobics.”

“But according to Imani, it’s a lot more fun,” Nyx chirped.

The two women nodded with lips curled up into smiles.

I burst out laughing. “This is crazy.”

“But true,” Nyx said before taking a drink. “But before the heating game begins, both shifters have to recognize each other as mates.”

I wiped my mouth with my napkin. “And how does that happen?”

“Shifters recognize their mates by scent and attraction,” Nyx informed me.

My eyebrows rose. “Instantly?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Imani said. “It took a while for my inner animal to wake up and choose Quinn.”

I swallowed my mouthful of food. “And what happened when your animal awoke?”

“My eyes turned amber, and so did his. That is nature’s sign that the mating is true. After that, the fireworks began.” She waggled her brows. “Mating heat. During sex with your mate, his incisors will drop, and he’ll bite you on the spot between your neck and shoulder. It’s called the mating bite.”

Mating bite?I choked on my drink mid gulp. Nyx patted my back.

“The mark shows other males that he’s claimed his female,” Imani stated. “That she’s his to love, protect, and keep happy for the rest of her life. The mark seals the mating bond. And for hybrids, the bite can speed up the process of them shifting into their true animal form. The female also reciprocates and marks her male during the mating ceremony.”