Mai entered the office quietly. She was nervous. Her heart thrummed in her chest as she tiptoed in and closed the door with the quietest click she could manage. It would be her first time seeing Naru since his heat. He'd closed the office for a few days since Lin was busy taking care of John, and he hadn't felt ready to see her by himself. He hadn't told her in those words, but that's the feeling she got. She almost breathed a sigh of relief when she found the main office empty, though she knew Lin and Naru were there. She could smell their blended scents lingering in the air. It always smelled stronger when they were in the office.

She headed to her desk and threw her coat over the back of her chair, though the weather was rapidly getting hotter and she didn't really need it anymore. She stretched. She was still wearing her long-sleeved school uniform. They'd be switching to the spring ones in a few weeks. It was quiet. Almost too quiet. She knew they'd sensed her arrival. It was impossible for them not to with their heightened senses. She hurried to the kitchenette to make tea, knowing they'd be ready for a cup by now. They always were when she first got in from school.

She stopped by Lin's office first, knocking on the door almost hesitantly before opening it. He turned his chair to look at her and gave his usual nod of greeting before returning to work. He paused in his typing as she reached across his elbow and put the cup steaming down. She froze anxiously as he looked up at her. His face was always hard to read, but she knew he had something to say. Her heart picked up again as she tried to work out how much trouble she was in.

"You shouldn't have done that." His eyes softened as her cheeks flush in shame. Of course, Naru had told him. Lin was his legal guardian and closest confidant. She fiddled with her tray, holding it in front of her chest like a shield. "I won't say I disagree with your intentions...of all Kazuya's potential mates, you would be the top of my list. However, you know well how vulnerable an omega is during their heat...Promise me you won't do it again. During his heat, Kazuya is off limits unless he gives you prior consent." His tone was calm and serious, heavier than usual. This was the first time she could recall him truly sounding like Naru's guardian. It was also the first time she felt like he was seriously telling her off. Waves of guilt and shame that rolled off her as she scrunched her nose.

"I'm really sorry..." she murmured with a low bow. She was pretty sure she'd disappointed him. He'd trusted her to take care of Naru and protect him during his heat. He'd given her the key to the office and believed that she would keep an eye on things. He'd clearly never imagined that she would do what she did, and take advantage of Naru's vulnerable state. She was still surprised at herself. Before it happened, she'd never imagined the thought would cross her mind. It took her a few moments to realise she hadn't actually replied to his warning. "I won't do it again."

"Good, now go and talk to Naru...Oh, and Mai. Thank you for the tea." Mai hurriedly bowed out of his office. One down...Mai sighed, heart pounding as she picked up the second cup. This would be the biggest test. She hadn't seen Naru since it happened, so she had no idea how he'd react. She wasn't even sure he knew himself. The one small comfort she had was that if things were truly beyond repair, he would have fired her already. Her hands felt a little clammy as she headed to his door. She knocked and entered without waiting for him to call. He rarely did. The scent of his heat was gone. It had been replaced with various chemical cleaners and bleach. His desk was shining. The patches on the carpet were clean and dry. She assumed his chair had received similar treatment since he was sitting in it.

"Naru, I brought your tea." The forced cheer in her voice was obvious she walked stiffly to the desk and placed the cup in its usual spot. Her chest felt heavy as she waited, hoping he hadn't picked up on the fake tone of her voice. Naru gave a small hum of acknowledgement. He didn't even look up from the papers he was writing. That wasn't unusual. He was busy. She was hesitant to leave. It would be so easy to turn around and retrace her steps to the door. So very easy. Naru's scent had lost the sweet intensity it had during his heat, but it was no less intoxicating to her. "Naru..." She wasn't sure what to say next.

"What is it?" He didn't stop working, but she could sense how unsettled he was. There was a slight twitch in his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. His mouth felt dry. Each breath he took was humiliating. Mai's scent was forever woven with the memory of coming to his senses on the desk and realising she was really there. Staring at him like he was the most enchanting being in the world. He felt his cock stir and took in a breath. His skin heated as anxiety flared in his chest. Why did Mai always make him feel so many things?

"I wanted to...What I did..." Her words finally pried his eyes up. He could scent her unrest. The citrus was sharper as nerves and fear swelled in her chest. He almost sighed as he sat back and looked across his desk to meet her anxious gaze. They had to get this out of the way at some point. It may as well be now..."I don't regret being with you. I don't regret what we did...but I do regret betraying your trust, and taking advantage the way I did." Naru's cheeks coloured slightly as he once again thought of all the things they'd done. There wasn't an inch of her body that he didn't know. There wasn't a patch of his that she hadn't explored. Lingering touches. Nibbling teeth. Soft lips.

"I can't say I forgive you...but I didn't hate it." He scented her changing mood. There was something almost hopeful blended with her nerves as she stepped around the desk and hovered beside him. Naru swallowed as he turned his chair and looked up. She was nervous. He was nervous. He stiffened as she made a move, but then she hesitated. They were about to cross a new line. Naru wasn't even sure he should let it happen. He licked his lips, subconsciously tilting his head in offering. It had been a few days, so the light mark on his throat had faded away now. His omega was conscious of it.

"I was so worried about coming in today...I didn't know if you'd even speak to me." She reached out and laid a hesitant hand on his shoulder. It felt strong and tense. The expensive cotton of his shirt glided beneath her fingers. Naru sat back and reached up to rest his hand on hers. She leaned down and was almost pulled off balance as his chair tilted back. Naru's sweet scent urged her closer, and he slowly opened his thighs in invitation for her to step between. He swallowed the knot that had formed in his throat. It was his turn to speak.

"I wasn't sure how to face you either...after you saw me like that..." He looked away, focusing on anything but her face. Mai's fingers tightened on his shoulder as she remembered how he'd looked. She could recall it with perfect clarity. Every detail. Every nervous tremble. Every needy word. Every desperate thrust. She wanted to reassure him, but wasn't sure what to say. His blue eyes softened as he finally looked up at her, somehow understanding her feelings.

They remained like that. Mai was between his legs, with one knee resting against the seat of his chair. Her hand was still holding his shoulder, and Naru was holding her hand. He remained leaning back in his chair, unsure where to go from there. The line had been crossed. There was no way back to where they were. Either they continued, and he accepted her feelings, or he broke her heart. And mine...He felt his heart skip as she leaned a little closer. As usual, she seemed ready to make the first move.

"Ah!" Mai yelped as she was pulled in by her slim waist. One of Naru's hands was on her hip while the other still gripped her hand. As she stumbled, her knee rose to catch her weight on the chair, and both of her hands were now resting on Naru's shoulders. As she blinked, she realised how much closer their faces were. They were barely a few inches apart. It would be so easy to...Naru leaned up a little and paused, tilting his head in question. Mai closed the distance and pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss before pulling back with red cheeks. This was so much easier last time...

It was Naru who took the lead this time. He cupped her cheek as he leaned up and moulded their lips together, leading her in an increasingly familiar dance. Mai let out a small moan, which was lost in Naru's mouth. She felt a hand slip down to caress her waist, while the other stroked up and down her arm. Naru smiled as he felt her lose her balance. She was suddenly flush against his chest, quivering hands gripping his shirt as she looked up with surprised eyes. He enjoyed the pink of her cheeks as she slowly realised how intimate their position was.

"Dinner!" It came out as a loud yelp that had Naru tilting his head as a smirk teased his lips. "I-I mean, will you come for dinner? At my apartment?" The smirk fled his lips and his skin coloured at the implication. He couldn't believe she'd been so bold as to ask such a thing. From the anxious look on her face, he was pretty sure she'd surprised herself. She worried her lip as she waited for his response. They both knew what the invitation meant.

"I'd like that." His voice was almost soft as he continued to hold her, getting used to the weight against his chest. He liked how it felt. He liked holding her. She was just the right height, just the right weight, and just the right shape. He helped her up, surprised to find that he was almost reluctant to let her go. My hormones are out of control! One minute he was mortified to be in the same room as her, the next he was desperately craving her company. He didn't want her. He did want her. He was besotted with her. She annoyed him. He just couldn't figure it out.

He watched her leave, almost smiling as he noticed the bounce in her step. She smiled shyly as she turned and closed the door with a gentle click. He listened carefully, tracing her hurried steps as she almost skipped to her desk. He knew she'd text Takigawa or Ayako. She always liked to talk to her friends about things like this. He didn't worry about her sharing too much. Some things were just too personal. He figured anything that made her blush was safe from discussion.