Kieran was the first to pull away, his thumb brushing across Leia's lips with tenderness.
"Your cheeks turned red. Did I make you blush?"
"Kind of," Leia admitted softly. "But you're also releasing pheromones."
His mouth curved into the faintest smile. "That wasn't intentional. When I'm with you, Eryx loses control. Zei feels the same, doesn't she?" His fingers slipped into her hair, twirling the silky strands as though he couldn't stop himself. Leaning down, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent like it grounded him.
"Leia," he murmured, his voice husky, "you might not see me around next week."
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head, the half-finished ice cream still in her hand.
"My rut is near," Kieran replied, finally lifting his gaze to hers. "Now that I've found my mate in you, it'll be harder for me to stay in control. Unlike Lucien and Ronan, I've never had the strongest grip on myself during that time."
