The first warning came at midday.
Cassian woke from a light doze with his skin too hot and his cock already hard against Vane’s thigh.
The air inside the tent felt thicker than it should.
His own scent had gone rich and heavy, sweeter than usual, the clear first note of a heat cycle trying to rise.
Vane noticed at once.
The General’s hand settled on the back of Cassian’s neck, feeling the fever starting under the skin.
“You’re warming,” Vane said, voice low.
“How long have you felt it?” Cassian tried to pull away and failed.
His body leaned into the touch instead.
“Since last night.
I thought it was just the leftover transfer.
It is not.” “No.” Vane’s thumb stroked the swelling gland on the side of his throat.
The contact sent a sharp pulse of need straight down Cassian’s spine.
Slick gathered between his thighs without warning.
“The constant healing and the bond we have been feeding have pushed your cycle forward.
Your body is done waiting.” Cassian’s breath came faster.
“I cannot go into heat here.
Not in the middle of a war camp.
Not with you.” “You already are.” Vane rolled them so Cassian lay on his back, thighs spreading on instinct.
The Alpha’s cock was fully hard, heavy against Cassian’s hip.
“The pre-heat is climbing fast.
I can smell it.
Your hole is already wet and open for it.” Cassian’s hips jerked when Vane’s fingers slid between his legs and found the slick proof.
Two fingers pushed inside easily, the heat-swollen tissue soft and greedy.
A broken sound left Cassian’s throat.
His cock leaked against his stomach.
“Feel that,” Vane murmured, working the fingers in slow, deep strokes.
“Your body is preparing itself for days of taking me.
The bond triggered it.
My scent.
My cock.
The energy we have been pouring into each other.
You were always going to end up here.” Cassian’s hands fisted in the furs.
“I do not want to need you like this.” “Your cock says otherwise.” Vane’s free hand wrapped around the hard length and stroked once, firm and slow.
“Your scent is pouring out of you so thick the guards outside will know what is happening.
Tell me the truth.
Does it feel good?” Cassian’s answer came out wrecked.
“Yes.
It feels like I am burning and the only thing that helps is more of you.” Vane leaned down and dragged his tongue over the swollen gland on Cassian’s throat.
The Omega arched hard, a fresh flood of slick soaking the Alpha’s wrist.
Pre-heat made every nerve too sharp, too hungry.
Cassian’s hole clenched around the fingers still working him open.
“I am going to keep you on the edge until the full heat hits,” Vane said against his skin.
“No release until your body is drowning in it.
The longer the build, the stronger the alignment when you finally break.” Cassian’s hips rocked down onto the fingers, chasing friction.
“That is cruel.” “That is necessary.” Vane added a third finger, stretching him wider, the wet sound obscene in the quiet tent.
“You will take my fingers and my mouth and the weight of my cock against you, and you will not come until I say.
Understand?” “Yes.” The word left Cassian without resistance.
The rising heat had already stripped most of it away.
Vane pulled his fingers free, shifted down the pallet, and swallowed Cassian’s cock in one smooth motion.
The wet heat of his mouth dragged a raw cry from Cassian’s throat.
The Alpha sucked slow and deep, tongue working the underside, one hand holding Cassian’s hips down so he could not thrust.
The other hand returned between his legs, three fingers pushing back inside and curling against the sensitive place that made stars burst behind Cassian’s eyes.
“Vane, please—” The General pulled off just long enough to speak, lips shiny.
“Not yet.
Feel how much higher it can go.” He returned to the cock in his mouth, sucking harder while his fingers fucked Cassian open with steady, relentless strokes.
The pre-heat made every sensation larger than it should have been.
Cassian’s thighs trembled.
Slick poured out of him.
His scent saturated the tent until even breathing felt like taking Vane deeper into his blood.
Vane kept him there for long minutes, mouth and fingers working in perfect rhythm, always pulling back the moment Cassian’s body tightened toward release.
Cassian’s voice broke into desperate, continuous sound.
His hands found Vane’s hair and held on.
“I need to come,” he gasped.
“It hurts.” “It will hurt more before it gets better.” Vane rose up, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and knelt between Cassian’s spread thighs.
He stroked his own thick cock once, then laid it against the slick, open cleft of Cassian’s ass, rubbing the length through the wetness without pushing in.
“Feel how hard I am for the heat that is coming.
When it breaks fully I am going to keep you full for days.
This is only the beginning.” Cassian’s hips lifted, trying to catch the head and force it inside.
Vane held him down easily, continuing the slow, torturous slide of his cock through the slick mess.
“Beg me properly,” Vane said, voice dark with want.
“Tell me what your body needs.” “Your cock.” Cassian’s voice cracked.
“Inside me.
Deep.
I need you to fill me and keep filling me until the heat stops trying to eat me alive.
Please.
I cannot think past it.” Vane’s control frayed.
He pushed the thick head against Cassian’s entrance and sank in with one long thrust.
Both of them cried out.
The heat-swollen tissues gripped him like a fist.
Vane bottomed out and stayed there, buried to the hilt, letting Cassian feel every pulse.
“This is what you will take until the cycle ends,” Vane said, beginning to move in deep, measured strokes.
“My cock.
My scent.
My seed.
Nothing else will satisfy the fire I can already feel under your skin.” Cassian could only moan and rock up to meet every thrust.
The pre-heat made the pleasure almost unbearable.
His cock slapped against his stomach with every impact, neglected and dripping.
Vane’s hand wrapped around it at last, stroking in time, but still denying the final edge.
“Not yet,” the Alpha growled.
“Hold it.
Let it build higher.” Cassian’s whole body shook with the effort.
The bond between them thrummed, bright and hungry, feeding on the rising heat.