half smile, “Thank you. You’re sweet. And, if it makes you feel any better, even in that state I wouldn’t have done anything that I didn’t want to,” she said.
“Now you tell me.”
Her smile reached her eyes and her cheeks even blushed a bit. I took a sip of my tea in a vain attempt to hide how happy her reaction made me. It was cute, but now wasn’t the time. I still needed to understand what happened. She took a slow sip of her tea before laying her mug back down on the counter.
“Thank you for the tea.”
“Anytime. If you’re hungry I can make you a sandwich or pop tarts or something?”
“Wow, so many options,” she laughed.
“I also make a mean bowl of cereal.”
The mood in the room was becoming more comfortable. It was clear that Erika was starting to relax and that in turn helped me feel better. I hated the thought of her being embarrassed or uncomfortable around me. We had to work together and I was planning to do everything I could to keep things from getting awkward. I know, I know, hard to believe that from the guy who constantly hits on his female teammates. Don’t judge me, I’m complicated.
“So, food?”
She shook her head, “No thanks. I should probably start explaining things. I know it can’t be easy to wait for the answers. Thank you for being patient with me, Bruce.”
“No problem. If it makes things any easier, I think I can guess what you’re about to tell me.”
Her expression seemed doubtful as she leaned back in her chair, tea in hand. I took that as my opening to continue.
“It’s funny. Earlier today, in the meeting with Freddy, I would have sworn that you were a Red. You’re strong and fast and obviously had some previous fight training. If you didn’t tell me what was going on soon, I was planning to lure you outside during the full moon and check for a sparkle. But now, thinking things over, I’ve got it completely backwards, don’t I?”
“Yup,” she sighed.
“So, I’m thinking something exotic here. Something awesome. I’ll go with werepanda?”
“I’m not sure that’s a real thing,” she smiled.
“Really? Because it would be pretty cool right?”
“It would be. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m a fox.”
“Yes… you… are.”
“Bruce,” she whispered, “I’m being serious.”
“I know you are. You mean werefox right?”
“Right.”
“Is there some fancy name for that, or do I just call you foxy?”
“Foxy will be fine,” she said, sticking out her tongue.
“Can I see?”
“I would probably have to remove the sweats for the full show and tell.”
“Ah, the proverbial good idea, bad idea. I don’t think I have the resolve to resist you twice.”
“Good to know,” she smirked.
“Hey! Be good.”
She blushed a little and took another sip of her tea. I fought the urge to make a joke and instead prodded her along.
“So, I’m thinking there’s more to what’s happening than just being a fox?”
“You’re right. Bruce, this isn’t easy for me. Please don’t laugh when I tell you this,” she asked.
“I won’t.”
“I’ve gone into heat.”
She waited to see how I would react. Honestly, I was more fascinated than I was giggly. The expression on my face must have conveyed that because she gave me a thankful smile for not making fun of her. I wanted to wait for her to continue, but I had too many questions.
“Does this happen a lot?”
“Normally, once a year, in the winter. It only lasts for a couple of days and I take time off of work so I won’t be around anyone.”
“Okay, so my calendar says late June, why is it happening now?”
“That’s the problem, I have no idea. I’ve never felt anything like this before, this strong. And it has been going on for over a week. Earlier, after the fight in the bar, the adrenaline of the moment, watching you check my chest out, your scent in Vlad on the ride to the office. It took all my strength to keep from jumping you in the car,” she
“Now you tell me.”
Her smile reached her eyes and her cheeks even blushed a bit. I took a sip of my tea in a vain attempt to hide how happy her reaction made me. It was cute, but now wasn’t the time. I still needed to understand what happened. She took a slow sip of her tea before laying her mug back down on the counter.
“Thank you for the tea.”
“Anytime. If you’re hungry I can make you a sandwich or pop tarts or something?”
“Wow, so many options,” she laughed.
“I also make a mean bowl of cereal.”
The mood in the room was becoming more comfortable. It was clear that Erika was starting to relax and that in turn helped me feel better. I hated the thought of her being embarrassed or uncomfortable around me. We had to work together and I was planning to do everything I could to keep things from getting awkward. I know, I know, hard to believe that from the guy who constantly hits on his female teammates. Don’t judge me, I’m complicated.
“So, food?”
She shook her head, “No thanks. I should probably start explaining things. I know it can’t be easy to wait for the answers. Thank you for being patient with me, Bruce.”
“No problem. If it makes things any easier, I think I can guess what you’re about to tell me.”
Her expression seemed doubtful as she leaned back in her chair, tea in hand. I took that as my opening to continue.
“It’s funny. Earlier today, in the meeting with Freddy, I would have sworn that you were a Red. You’re strong and fast and obviously had some previous fight training. If you didn’t tell me what was going on soon, I was planning to lure you outside during the full moon and check for a sparkle. But now, thinking things over, I’ve got it completely backwards, don’t I?”
“Yup,” she sighed.
“So, I’m thinking something exotic here. Something awesome. I’ll go with werepanda?”
“I’m not sure that’s a real thing,” she smiled.
“Really? Because it would be pretty cool right?”
“It would be. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m a fox.”
“Yes… you… are.”
“Bruce,” she whispered, “I’m being serious.”
“I know you are. You mean werefox right?”
“Right.”
“Is there some fancy name for that, or do I just call you foxy?”
“Foxy will be fine,” she said, sticking out her tongue.
“Can I see?”
“I would probably have to remove the sweats for the full show and tell.”
“Ah, the proverbial good idea, bad idea. I don’t think I have the resolve to resist you twice.”
“Good to know,” she smirked.
“Hey! Be good.”
She blushed a little and took another sip of her tea. I fought the urge to make a joke and instead prodded her along.
“So, I’m thinking there’s more to what’s happening than just being a fox?”
“You’re right. Bruce, this isn’t easy for me. Please don’t laugh when I tell you this,” she asked.
“I won’t.”
“I’ve gone into heat.”
She waited to see how I would react. Honestly, I was more fascinated than I was giggly. The expression on my face must have conveyed that because she gave me a thankful smile for not making fun of her. I wanted to wait for her to continue, but I had too many questions.
“Does this happen a lot?”
“Normally, once a year, in the winter. It only lasts for a couple of days and I take time off of work so I won’t be around anyone.”
“Okay, so my calendar says late June, why is it happening now?”
“That’s the problem, I have no idea. I’ve never felt anything like this before, this strong. And it has been going on for over a week. Earlier, after the fight in the bar, the adrenaline of the moment, watching you check my chest out, your scent in Vlad on the ride to the office. It took all my strength to keep from jumping you in the car,” she
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