Precious - Roe Horvat Page 0,10

worse. You need to be honest with me. Are you sure no one needs to know you’re here? Is there no one who could help you?”

This time, a single tear ran down his face. “No.”

“Okay.”

Micah wiped his cheek.

“How many times?” he asked abruptly.

“What?”

“How many times will you have to fuck me?”

How much did he even know about his own body?

“It’s your first heat, so the chance you’ll get pregnant is next to nothing. It will last a full ten days. You’ll go through about fifteen to twenty-five heat waves, the most intense ones around the fourth or fifth day. You can easily have five waves during the one-day peak, and they can be up to one hour long. You’ll need to be knotted for a large part of that day.”

Micah gnawed on his pouty bottom lip. His painful memories seemed close to the surface. “The first one took hours. When I was alone.”

“That’s because you had no relief. If you stay empty, each wave drains you until your body can’t handle being aroused anymore, and you pass out. You can’t move, can’t feed yourself, can’t even drink. Then the next wave comes. If your prostate is stimulated, they’re shorter, and the knot stops the cramping entirely. But it’s not just about the fucking, Micah.” The turquoise irises shone with sadness, fear, and hope. The lovely mouth parted with an anxious breath, and Travis knew he wouldn’t be able to say no if Micah insisted. “Heat is an intensely emotional experience. For both partners.”

“I’m starting to understand that,” Micah said slowly and looked away. “I thought I could wait it out. But when the wave came, it was so violent. I had a dildo with me, but soon it wasn’t enough. I just yelled, I guess. I crawled to the river, and the cold water helped for a moment, but it probably only made things worse later on. Then I lost the fucking dildo in the river.” He scoffed. “I never stood a chance.”

Someone should’ve been there for you. Someone who loves you.

At that exact moment, Micah’s stomach growled loudly.

Travis took a deep breath. First things first. “C’mon. You need to eat something. We can talk more when you’re not starving.”

“How much time do I have?”

“It’s different for everyone. A few hours. Maybe even the whole day.”

“Okay. Food. Food sounds great.”

“I’ll show you the bathroom. You can shower, and I’ll make you dinner. Pasta okay?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Travis took the clean clothes he’d gotten ready for his guest and led him to the bathroom. He hovered close and had to tell himself to back the fuck off when he almost stepped on the blanket Micah wore wrapped around himself. Micah closed the bathroom door between them, and Travis blinked. With a quiet sigh, he leaned his forehead on the door frame for a few seconds. He wanted to sit on the floor in the hallway and wait there like a dog.

Swearing under his breath, Travis went downstairs to the kitchen and searched his fridge for something fast to prepare. The grocery delivery was canceled because of the impassable roads, but Travis was borderline obsessive about stocking his pantry and freezer whenever he stayed in the mountains. His well-organized supplies would be enough for the next week at least.

He was struggling to stay calm in Micah’s absence, even though he knew the man was just a few feet away. Get a grip, Travis. Pasta, cheese, tomato sauce—quick and easy, fat and carbs. Later, he’d make Micah another protein shake. He didn’t know how much time they had, and Micah still needed to rest. Hell, Travis needed rest if he had to ride out more than a week with a twenty-year-old in heat.

Micah barely said a word between forkfuls of fusilli. Judging by the way he shoveled the food, he’d been starving. He chased the last pasta piece around the plate, put it in his mouth, and drank half of the water. Then he lifted his gaze to Travis. “So…you said you could help me. Can I stay here?” He swallowed. “Until it’s over?”

If they were to go through the upcoming ten days together, honesty was key. “I don’t think it’s fair to you, Micah. You should have had a partner you feel safe with. Especially since it’s your first heat.”

Micah frowned, biting on his bottom lip. “I couldn’t go to anyone I know.”

“You feel like you have no choice.”

Micah’s gaze held Travis’s, and the young man suddenly looked older. Bright intellect shone in