Chapter 16 – Heat, Snow, and a Smoke Show Part 1
I settled into my cot as the exhaustion from the day washed over me. I felt so tired I'd honestly welcome a brief coma just to get some sleep. My life had been balls to the wall since I arrived in this place, and there was no end in sight.
Today alone had been more than I anticipated. It was supposed to be a simple level-grinding outing with Shy—but no~. We ran into a fucking super orc. Yeah, we got something out of it, but we wouldn't keep getting lucky. Past experience told me that much. It's possible my luck stat has been keeping me alive. I've had way too many near brushes with death for it to be a coincidence. But clearly, it wasn't omnipotent.
I'd nearly crippled myself. Almost got diced up by my pet wolf turned sexy wolf-monster girl. And she still might kill me. Let's not forget almost getting turned into a popsicle by my resident ice queen.
I rolled onto my side.
"The fuck am I even doing?" I whispered to myself.
Good question. I'd just been going with the flow for a while, but that clearly wasn't working. I needed to be better. Things were changing with the quickness. I needed to adapt.
But fuck, I feel like I can't even catch my breath. I just… fuck.
I felt something warm brush against my back. I recognized it immediately.
Nyla.
She must've come in while I was lost in thought.
Dammit. Another thing I needed to work on—how often can I be caught unaware? Especially by a real-deal predator. I loved the girl, but she clearly had issues.
Issues that got my heart going.
…Fuck. I'm just as bad. Worse.
"Lala," I said without turning toward her.
"Hm?" she hummed, snuggling closer.
My heart rate quickened at the softness against my back and the warmth of her fur on my skin.
Fuhhhck.
"You know we can't keep doing this."
"Hmm? I just wanted to be close. Is that bad?"
Dammit. That's playing dirty.
"No. It's not bad, it's just… Look, I know you feel it too. The burning, the ache, the—"
"Unending desire," she finished for me, voice like silk over embers.
"Yeah, that."
I sat up and moved away.
"You make me feel like my feet aren't touching the ground, Nyla. Like I can do anything—with no consequences."
"Yeah! I feel that way too! Like nothing can stop me when I have you, Master!" she said, tails wagging eagerly.
"You don't get it."
I turned to her, my voice soft.
"You're like a storm, Lala. You scare me. In ways that I love… and in others…"
Her ears drooped. Her tails stilled.
"You're afraid of me? Still? But I thought we moved past that… I thought you forgave me."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"We did. And I did. But fuck, I don't know. Sometimes you do things—say things, walk a certain way—and it terrifies me."
"That I'll hurt you… again," she whispered, looking away.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
"No. That I'd be willing to let you," I said, burying my face into her shoulder.
"You make me reckless, Lala."
My voice dropped to a low rumble, close to a growl.
Her body trembled as my fingers traced her spine.
"I find myself diving into my baser instincts whenever I'm near you."
"Master… no. Kai, I—"
I interrupted her with a kiss.
Strong. Long. Gentle. Passionate.
Everything I had to give.
"I see myself drowning in you, Nyla. But the scary part? I don't mind it at all."
"Then—"
I placed a finger to her lips before she could finish.
"I know what you want to say. But I can't afford to lose myself in you. Not yet. Maybe not ever."
My voice cracked with the weight of it.
"But I can promise you a piece of me. Is that not enough?"
"No!" she shouted instantly. "You're mine. All of you!"
I took a cautious step back.
She stepped forward—fast—pressing me against the wall of the cave. Her golden eyes glowed like a hunter's.
"…But I can share," she whispered.
Then she kissed me. Deep. Rough. Possessive.
Claiming me.
When she broke the kiss, I slid down the wall, gasping for air.
"So you don't forget my taste," she said, licking her lips as she turned to leave.
Her tails brushed slowly across my chest, then down my legs as she walked away.
The look she gave me stuck long after she'd gone.
Her scent still lingered on my skin.
Her taste still clung to my tongue.
She was every bit the predator I thought she was—but in that moment, she had never been more beautiful.
Fuck… I'm in trouble.