Page 62 of A Soul to Embrace

He kicked his right leg to the side, hooked it over her hip, and managed to rotate until she was on her back. Jabez quickly shifted her until she was on her front like he’d been and straddled her waist to keep her down. Despite how she fought him, he grabbed her wrists and pinned them behind her back, needing to use both his hands.

What in the cursed light is happening?he wondered, his grip on her arms tightening to stop her from flipping them back over.

He hadn’t expected to return to their cave with her like this. Sure... Jabez knew she’d smelt like arousal here and there, but it had always been gentle and never acute like this. He could only wonderwhyit was happening now, considering he’d been gone for over a day!

The snarl that left him was feral, but it snuffed out when she bucked and gyrated in an attempt to get free. She reared her head back, before just laying it upon the ground as she whined.

“Please,”she rasped, her orbs flickering between white and...purple.He knew the latter meant she was filled with desire, but he just couldn’t understand as to what had come over her. “Please help me. You smell so good.” Her hips waved as she pressed them against the cave floor before letting out a deep shudder. “It hurts. I ache. Make it stop. You’re sowarm.”

She settled just so she could pant and lick at her snout, and purple shifted permanently into her sight. What drew his brows together was the appearance of ethereal tears, and purple droplets began to float around her skull.

Grappling with the fact that her arousal scent was so strong his cock had managed to harden completely despite their kerfuffle, he tried to figure out what was happening. It didn’t help that his heart was racing with adrenaline, flooding his own body with heat under the power of his huffing breaths as they sucked in the tainted, tantalising air.

Her body is really hot.She radiated unusual warmth, to the point he could feel it in his groin and where his thighs pressed against her.Uncontrollable desire.He turned his head towards the chaotic mess that was their bedding. It looked like a nest, and she’d even dragged one of his shirts closer as if she sought more of his smell.

She’s weak.The fact she hadn’t managed to fight him off was concerning, considering her usual strength.

Realisation trickled down his spine like a cruel fucking joke.

“You’re kidding me,” he whispered in disbelief as he brought his gaze back to her and her glowing purple orbs. “You have a damnheatcycle?”

Any remaining anger fled out of him, and in its place, a strange flare of desire warmed his cheeks and ears further. So did mortification.

“Jabez,” she moaned, as she tugged at her arms before giving up once more. She shivered before whining, “It’s so cold.”

Shit. What do I do?He inspected his placement upon her, and how she was pressed against the freezing stone beneath them.

“I... I can’t help you,” he admitted. “I can’t take this ache away.”

He could, but Jabez absolutely refused. She was disorientated, confused, and feverish with need. A female in this state couldnot consent to any form of intimacy, no matter how much she groped, ground, or begged. He also just refused intimacy with her altogether.

But if he let her go, she’d likely claw at him for aid. For something, anything. Female Demons going through a heat cycle were... vulnerable creatures, and highly sensitive. They sought pleasure, comfort. They nested in scents that soothed them, just as Zylah had.

His gaze turned to the rain.

He could go outside and wait this out, abandoning her on her own, but...Fuck. I’ve made it worse for her by coming here.She’d likely just chase him now, seeking warmth and his scent, and no doubt his touch as well.

I thought she was drawing away from me because of what she’d learned.But this clearly explained that he’d beenwrong,and Jabez wasn’t often wrong.

A foul glare squinted his eyes.She knew this was going to happen.No wonder she wanted him to leave.

The avoidance was common for a female who was uncertain about her companion, but Jabez also didn’t think that was the case here. The fact she’d nestled into his bedding and clothing showed, very blatantly, that she desired him.

Was she uncertain about... herself?

Given that he hadn’t taught her anything about her own gender, he doubted she had any idea as to what was happening.The damn human anatomy book will contain only half the information.It was pointless. He would have needed one that focused on Demon anatomy and the fertility cycles they went through.

Fuck. What do I do?He wouldn’t be despicable and touch her, no matter that his cock pulsated at the idea. He’d always found her body sensual; she’d never been unattractive to him.

But abandoning her for his own self-preservation would only be unfair.

Closing his eyes when frustration bubbled, Jabez made his decision.

He leaned over her until he was right next to her skull, gentling his tone so it would be taken in softly. “I’m going to let you go. I need you to be good and not turn on me. I will help how I can. Understood?”

She shivered with his voice right in her ear, her neck arching for more, and nodded for him. He tentatively let go of her wrists and backed off her to give them space.

“Go to the bedding,” he told her, as he grabbed his shirt and lifted it over his head. He tossed it towards her makeshift nest, then collected his cloak and brought it closer.

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