Lea sat on the sofa with her knees tucked under her chin, her eyes glued to the television though she wasn't really watching. It had been days since her omega heat ended, yet the memory of it still clung to her like a shadow. Every touch, every moment of vulnerability, every shameless act of hers replayed in her head, making her cheeks burn crimson.
She had jumped on Hugo. Not once. Not twice. For a whole week. The thought alone made her want to bury herself under ten layers of blankets and never come out again.
"Baby."
The voice came from behind her, low and teasing, followed by the faint rustle of footsteps approaching. Lea's shoulders stiffened. She didn't need to look—she already knew who it was.
"Don't you 'baby' me," she muttered, still staring at the screen as if the cartoon characters there were her last line of defense.
