“It is strongest here, just above your heart.” He licked again, creating another yelp that came out strangled with a gasp. “Yes. I can sense what you smell like clearly now.”
Reia clenched her eyes shut.
What the fuck is wrong with me?! Those two simple licks over her chest, feeling how rough, yet slippery his long tongue was, had sent a charge throughout her body.
As though it was betraying her, her nipple on that side had hardened swiftly while the other was slowly firming behind it. A pool of heat had swept through her belly, building just above her core that contracted.
It’s nerves. Simply nerves. I’m just excited because he doesn’t plan to go out of his way to eat me!
That was it, that had to be it. There was absolutely, positively, no way that Reia was actually being turned on by a monster right now.
“Can you please stop licking me?” She squirmed a little, unable to get away with him above her. “You said you weren’t going to eat me, but it’s a little disturbing, like you weren’t actually telling the truth.”
He grunted, while his orbs turned a reddish-pink. He suddenly shot to his feet, revealing to her that he had reverted completely into the Duskwalker shape from before
– the one with the human-shaped body and clothes.
He no longer appeared like the nightmare she’d seen but the creature who had stirred a moment of tenderness within her after she’d said his name.
“My apologies, snowy one,” he said calmly. Her thighs pressed together at the low, reverberating deep tone of his voice, her mind finding it even more appealing than before with her body tingling in such a disconcerting way. “I am sure you have had a frightening day, and we should go to our home.”
He reached his hand forward as though he wanted to help her to her feet.
Go to our home.
Her stomach twisted at the offer, at his words, and she was unsure why she didn’t hesitate to slip her own hand into his much larger one after she’d seen what he could turn into.
There was a gentleness as he hoisted her up. He gave her hand a tentative squeeze, almost as if he was squeezing it to reassure or comfort her.
“I hope you do not mind, but would you be okay walking on your own for a little while?”
He waved his hand to the left, his actions telling her they were going to continue walking in the direction they’d been heading all along and wouldn’t be returning to where the Demonslayers were.
Reia nearly groaned at the idea of chasing behind him while tripping in the snow, but just managed to suppress it.
Now that her adrenaline was waning, the ice was already freezing her bare feet. Her toes were already aching.
“We aren’t going back the way we came?”
“No. Demons who have been hiding on the surface have surely already started devouring what I have left behind.”
She bit her lips together and nodded.
He started leading the way with his long legs, and she immediately followed.
“You must be strong,” she grumbled with her head turned away from him to hide her pout. “You managed to kill two Demonslayers.”
“It is not the first time I have been attacked by them. They occasionally lay in wait for when I take an offering with the intention to take my life. They know when I am coming, but they grow less successful every time.” A rolling growl made her snap her face to him to see his orbs were red. “They targeted you. Why?”
“As bait.” Reia’s lips twitched and her brows crinkled when she realised how easy it was to keep up with him. He was walking slower than he had been before. “They probably thought it would force you into a corner, like you’d do anything to protect me.”
She laughed at the ridiculousness of that. Why would he care for my life over his own?
“Protect?” His head twitched, but she wasn’t sure why.
“Yes, that was what I was trying to do when I saw the sword against you.”
Her movements paused as her head reared back in unmistakable confusion. She remained planted where she was, watching him step away with the sound of his feet crunching into the snow.
“Your life is precious. I will try to make sure it does not end if I can.”
Her lips parted silently.
Is he saying he is actually planning to protect me? She couldn’t understand that. What does he want from me?
It was only now that she was behind him that she could see the spots of steaming purple globs splattered on the ground trailing after him. When the arching hem of his black cloak slipped further forward, she could see they were coming directly from him.
“Are... Are you hurt?”
Why did a pang lance her chest at the thought? She should be satisfied he was hurt!
That’s why he’s walking so slow.
“Yes. I’ve been stabbed and cut a few times.” He said it as though he didn’t care, but she couldn’t help feeling her deep well of sympathy growing.
He was even limping slightly.
“S-stop,” she bit out through gritted teeth. She ran forward when he halted and turned around to greet her. She reached down and started tearing at the hem of her dress.
