Chapter 1 #2
Seeing no way to explain myself without making things awkward, I follow suit and bite into the mini pumpkin. I meet Tilly’s wide eyes and we hum in unison, nodding vigorously as we taste the rich flavors.
“This is amazing! What’s in it?” Tilly praises, studying the cake from all angles before going back for another bite.
Maisie preens, her shoulders shimmying with satisfaction.
“I went big on spices to give it the right vibes for Halloween. There’s cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and I also added some black pepper to give it a bit of a kick.
The sweet cream cheese frosting is meant to balance it out. Is it too strong? Too weak? Thoughts?”
I place one hand in front of my mouth and explain around another blissful bite, “It’s perfection. I’d like one hundred of these, please.”
“Yay! I’m so happy you guys like them. That’s one of the treats taken care of then.
” Maisie pauses and holds her index finger up.
“Oh, before I forget, I stopped by The Flowering Teapot on my way here. Aunt Annamae told me that she’d be very happy to grow a bunch of pumpkins out front, and she says she wants to turn your climbing coral roses on the pub’s facade into black roses for the party.
She also said she can extend the roses inside and across the walls and ceiling.
Or if we want, she can do vines up the stone walls.
We just have to let her know once we decide what our aesthetic is for the party. ”
Placing a hand on my chest, I can almost feel the gratitude for the dryad, for the whole community, swelling within me. “That’s really generous of her. Thank you.”
Tilly smiles, her dark eyes sparking with renewed fervor.
“All of Starry Hill is looking forward to the first real Halloween party on the island. Doc Calla and I have also talked about decorating The Bandaged Heart and maybe putting up some tombstones outside the practice and adding some fake blood to the front door. Maybe a skeleton in the waiting room? Do you think that’s too dark for some patients? ”
Maisie sits up, her back ramrod straight as she taps her notebook.
“If the whole town is interested in getting involved, then we can have a lot of fun with it. We can transform the main hill into Halloween Central. We’d decorate all the shops and have lanterns spanning across the main road leading up from First Street to Third.
I could ask Aunt Annamae if she’d be up to growing a pumpkin patch at the base of the hill?
Am I going too big now? If I am, please rein me in again. ”
Tilly leans forward and lays a hand on Maisie’s.
“No, no. These are all great ideas. But, I think a good point to start from is asking all of the shop owners if they want to be involved. Each of us can take a street and chat to them to see how they feel. Then we can meet back here again next week and swap ideas based on their responses.” Tilly frowns, then nods to herself before continuing, “Come to think of it, it might be good to have weekly meetings until the party.”
I swallow hard and tuck my hair behind my ear. “About that. I might have to skip one of the meetings. I’m not sure, but I’ll be taking a week off soon.”
Maisie’s head quirks to the side. “A week? Where you going?” Her whole demeanor shifts from curious to worried. “Are you okay?”
I’m quick to reassure her. “I’m totally okay. It’s just that my heat is due soon but it can be finicky about which day it shows up. That’s usually the only time I shut the pub, but you’re welcome to still come here and plan. I can leave the spare keys with you.”
Maisie relaxes back into her seat as she waves my offer away.
“No, no. This place isn’t the same without you here.
We can meet at my and Ren’s place, or at Tilly and Bodin’s, or even at The Flowering Teapot.
No need to worry about us. But let’s pause for a moment and rewind.
” Propping her elbows on the counter, Maisie leans forward with a mischievous glint in her green eyes.
“A heat? That sounds fun! Isn’t that like a week of straight-up fucking? Can humans get it too?”
I shrug noncommittally. “It could be fun for some creatures, I guess.”
Tilly sucks in an audible breath, seemingly understanding what I’m not saying. “Marisol. Do you have someone to help you through your heat?”
Trying to play it cool and like it’s not the worst week of my life every six months, I giggle awkwardly. “I’ve got my trusty drawer of toys for moments when I’m lucid. But…”
Tilly’s gasp is even louder this time. “Please don’t tell me you buy those awful sedation drugs?” Concern colors her voice and her eyes plead with me to prove her assumption wrong.
“I don’t?” Even to my own ears, I can hear how unconvincing it sounds.
“Marisol,” Tilly scolds with so much care it makes my heart ache. “Those drugs are awful for your body. And who takes care of you? Who checks your food and water intake? Your pain management?”
Maisie’s gaze bounces between us, a horrified expression taking over her face. “Wait a minute. There’s pain involved?”
Wincing, I explain in a small voice, “That’s why I need the sedation.”
“Nope. Nopedy nope nope.” Maisie takes out her notebook and taps her pen.
“This is unacceptable. How can we help you? Can we set up a schedule to bring you food and water? I can talk to Beck to take me over to your island at least once a day. Or Viggo! They can take turns to ferry me. I’ll clear my baking schedule and… ”
My chest tightens and the back of my eyes prickle at Maisie’s willingness to drop everything to help me. But it’s not as simple as that. Thankfully, Tilly takes over and saves me from having to explain it all.
“A heat can be a wonderful experience if you have the right support system. And absolutely awful if you’re alone. Basically, if you’re not climaxing or slid onto a knot, you’re in pain. And unless we have consented to be sexually involved with Marisol, she wouldn’t want to see us.”
Like a popped balloon, Maisie deflates and sags into her chair. “Oh.”
My ears heat with embarrassment and I stare down at my toes, wishing they were currently fins so I can swim away from this uncomfortable conversation.
“Marisol,” Tilly calls gently. She waits for me to meet her empathetic gaze before she asks, “Have you ever considered using an agency to help you find someone to assist you through your heat? There’s a very reputable one with a branch in Cape Easton that I’ve referred patients to.
All creatures are thoroughly vetted before joining, and everyone has to fill out questionnaires so the agency can match your sexual preferences to check for compatibility before even scheduling a face-to-face meeting. ”
A minuscule spark of hope, and perhaps a little excitement, flares in my chest. “Yeah?” Would it actually be possible for me to not go through this alone for the first time in my life?
Tilly nods, her medical professional voice laced with a true friend’s care and concern.
“It’s all above board, consent-heavy, and a very safe environment.
They’ve got different kinds of nests you can pick from and they’ll invite you to have supervised meetings with prospective partners way before your heat starts so your hormones don’t cloud your judgment.
You can either go there to ride out your heat, or you can ask for partners to be sent to your home. ”
Maisie snaps her fingers and points to Tilly.
“Yes! You should do that. How does she sign up? This sounds much better than being alone and in pain and drugged out of her mind. And she can have partners with interesting cocks who can keep her more satisfied than whatever toys she has. I bet your hands get so tired when you’ve got to do all the work yourself for the entire week. ”
Curiosity wins and my lips lift into a small smile.
“I guess there’s no harm in checking the place out.
” I can only hope there’s someone depraved enough to meet my insatiable appetite when I’m in the throes of my heat and begging to be knotted for the umpteenth time.
But I don’t dare give voice to that thought.
Tilly’s nod of approval and Maisie’s suppressed squeal of excitement soothe whatever nerves want to take hold of me. Before I can second-guess myself, Tilly stuffs the last bite of her pumpkin cake into her mouth as she gets up.
“Let’s head down to The Bandaged Heart so you can answer the questionnaires while I call the agency to schedule a visit for you,” she says around a mouthful.
My eyes widen and my heart rate picks up. “Oh, you mean like right now?”
“Heats can be unpredictable and can sometimes show up earlier than expected, as you probably know better than me. The sooner we can get the ball rolling, the better we can prepare for it.”
I glance over at Maisie and the way she’s biting down on her lips. Knowing my friend, she’s probably chomping at the bit to come with us to have a look at the questionnaire, adorable little kinky fucker that she is. I smile at her and incline my head toward the door in invitation.
Maisie shoots up out of her chair and gathers all her things. “Do you think we can see photos of your prospective heat partner? How fun will that be? We can make piles of yeses, noes, and maybes.”
Pausing at the door, Tilly glances over her shoulder at us with a playful twinkle in her eyes. “I’d venture to say heat ‘partners.’ As in plural. Marisol will probably need two or three to keep up with her.”
I don’t even try to deny it.