Page 60 of Xeda

Truthfully, she feared his response, but she had to know. Why her? The kind he loathed the most. It still made no sense.

He didn't say anything at first. Her curiosity, now stronger than her fear, made her look up at him. He seemed to be thinking over his answer.

"In truth...it was you who triggered this heat in me," he finally said. "So, it would respond to no one else. You are the only one here I can trust. So, who or what you are doesn't matter." He moved to stand closer to her. "My body wants what it wants, and I couldn't have it any other way. And now it doesn't matter as long as I have you this way for myself."

She wasn't sure how to feel about that response. But joy and confusion were two emotions she noticed the most.

She broke the distance between them and lifted her hand to his chest. He didn't move back, in fact he relished in her touch, and at least she had that. She let her hands move freely over him, loving that he responded to her now so well, loving that he wanted it. He hummed as he closed his eyes, bending his head to rest it on her shoulder as she massaged his skull and neck. This was more than she could have ever hoped for. Though she knew deep down she still didn't have all of him. That this could just be temporary, that when his heat dissolved, he might not feel the same.

She forced these thoughts away. No, she wanted to just be in this moment with him. And happy that she had this now. That she had him even a little. It would have to be enough.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

Ophilia

She woke to something slithering across her leg. Her eyes fluttered open as she twisted on her side. Coming out of sleep, she noticed the bed under her was damp. The body next to her was so warm it made her sweat.

Xeda stirred beside her. When she looked up at his face, she saw the inner lids covering his eyes. He was still asleep, and yet his tail had a mind of its own, curling across her thigh.

Groggy from sleep, she lifted her arm to check her wristpad. It was late afternoon. They hadn't gone to sleep until the sun started to rise.

She moved onto her back and winced. As she’d predicted, she was sore—her center throbbed with a dull ache. Along her thighs, she could see a smattering of bruises and, underneath them, tiny little cuts from Xeda's scales. Funny, she hadn't felt them when they had sliced her. Gently, she traced her fingers along them, feeling the small sting. She would have to find a salve for them.

She turned her head slowly and looked up at Xeda's face again, his head close to hers. His lip twitched in his sleep, as if he were dreaming. Careful not to wake him, she lifted herself slowly to a sitting position. She took a moment to just sit there quietly, watching his chest barely move, his tail twisting beside her. Her mind wandered to last night, and she felt her heart begin to race again at the memory. How they melded together so well despite their differences. How strange yet perfect he felt. She closed her eyes, her toes curling, soaking in the feeling of silent bliss that melted her. If only it could last forever. If only she could stay in this moment and leave when she was ready.

But they were not free yet, and so this moment was only temporary. A brief few hours of happiness before they were forced to face whatever came their way. Before she had to face the end result. She didn't want to think about it now, even in a positive way. She just wanted to have this moment and keep it for herself.

Carefully, she stretched her legs and arms, trying to untighten her muscles. As much as she would love to just sit there and watch him, she felt gross from the sweat that had lingered on her in sleep and now wanted to shower. She reached a hand out to Xeda, then pulled away. Instead, trying not to wake him, she leaned across and ever so lightly brushed her lips across his. She pulled away quickly, her heart pattering, then relieved when he still didn't wake. Smiling, she slowly rose and climbed out of the bed that was like a nest, striding back to her room. She called for food before she washed so it would be ready when she was done and when he woke.

Today, for once, was a free day. No fights, no games, no showings or parties. People would be recovering from the night before and looking for a break, if only a small one. Ophilia thought about what that meant for her and Xeda. They could actually spend the day together. She might not be able to take him out of the confines of the game hall, but they could go to the gardens or back up to the roof when no one was there.

Or they could stay here, and Xeda could do whatever he liked with her.

She'd have no problem with that, even if her body could use a break. She could pamper him instead, and she liked the idea of that too. He'd been through a lot the last few weeks. They both had.

When she'd finished showering, she tied her hair back and slipped on a silky robe. She returned to Xeda's room and stepped over to the door, opening it just in time for their food to arrive. She started arranging it on the groundmat near the bed, her mouth watering from the smell.

"What do you think you're doing?"

She looked around and saw Xeda leering at her as he sat up from the bed. A playful expression, not angry. For once, he seemed relaxed enough to just be himself, not hidden by his rage.

She turned back to the groundmat. "I figured you might like to eat something."

He hummed as he reclined back, watching her. "Come here and I will."

She gazed back at him in shock. And saw his mouth widen in that sly sort of smile. But she didn't think he could know about that kind of intimacy. More that he was implying she was a tasty morsal he'd like to bite into. Still, she laughed. She searched over the food and took a bowl of sweet fruit dipped in a sort of syrup along with a plate of seared meat. She slid back over to the bed, seating her herself on the edge, letting her legs dangle down. She placed the food beside her.

"Try this instead," she said, picking up a small fruit that looked like a large berry of some sort, curious to see his reaction.

Xeda gave her a funny look as he unfurled himself and came to kneel beside her, placing one arm on the edge of the bed. He opened his mouth, showing his black teeth, and Ophilia carefully placed the fruit on his tongue. He snapped his mouth shut and swallowed in one bite. His face started to twist, his mouth widening as he gritted his teeth.

Ophilia tried to contain her laughter. "Didn't care for that, did you?"

He licked his teeth as his nose wrinkled. "No," he said. "Too sweet. Disgusting."

She smiled at him as she popped a berry into her mouth. "Too bad." She picked up the plate of meat next and took a piece between her fingers. "How about this?"

His eyes rose to hers as he leaned forward, taking the bite of meat between his teeth, his tongue sliding over her fingers. Ophilia shivered as she felt the graze of his teeth.

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