Hei Yan placed her gently on the ground inside his cave.
The moment her feet touched the floor, Xin Yi's nose wrinkled in disgust.
It was cold. Dank. The air was musty and thick, and the ground was just.….dirt. Cold, slightly damp dirt. There were furs scattered around, at least those looked clean, but otherwise, it was literally just a cave.
A dark, depressing hole in a rock.
"This is where you live?" she asked, unable to hide her dismay.
[Ding! New Quest Alert: Teach these primitives how to build a proper house!]
[Time Limit: Complete within 24 hours or face consequences!]
[Reward: 100 System Points + Improved living conditions + Alpha's admiration]
"Ugh? I have to build a house? I can barely build a LEGO set!"
[Don't worry, Host! I will teach you everything! It'll be fun! ☆]
"Your definition of fun is deeply concerning."
"What are you talking about?" Hei Yan's voice came from behind her.
Before she could answer, she felt his presence, large, warm, and overwhelmingly close.
"Wait—" she started to turn.
But he was already upon her.
His hands caught her waist, pulling her back against his chest. He was so much bigger than her, his body heat slipping through the thin layer of leaves she wore.
"Hei Yan—"
[Warning! Alpha's pheromones are spiking! He might go beyond just a kiss! Brace yourself, Host!]
Her heart hammered. "System, you said just a kiss!"
[I said you PROMISED a kiss. I never said he'd STOP at a kiss! Important distinction!]
"That's NOT—mmph!"
His lips found her neck, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along the sensitive skin.
"Ah!" The sound escaped before she could stop it, a breathy moan that made Hei Yan growl low in his throat.
His grip on her waist tightened, fingers digging in possessively as he kissed a path up to her jaw.
Then he spun her around and captured her lips with his.
Xin Yi's eyes flew wide.
This was her first kiss.
Her very first kiss.
And oh god, it was—
"Mmm..."
Her eyes fluttered closed. Her hands, which had been pushing against his chest, suddenly clutched at his shoulders instead.
He was good at this. Very good. His lips moved against hers with skillfully,coaxing her to respond. When she tentatively kissed back, he made another one of those deep, satisfied sounds that sent shivers down her spine.
His tongue flicked against her lower lip, and without thinking, her lips parted.
The kiss deepened.
Xin Yi's knees went weak. To her absolute shock, she found herself wanting more. Her fingers tangled in his long hair, pulling him closer, kissing him back with an eagerness that should have embarrassed her but somehow didn't.
When he finally pulled back for air, they were both breathing hard.
He licked his lips, his purple eyes nearly glowing in the darkness. "Sweet."
Then he was kissing her neck again, and to Xin Yi's horror, her head tilted back automatically, giving him better access.
What am I doing?! some distant part of her brain shrieked.
But her body wasn't listening. Hei Yan pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes literally glowing now, pupils dilated.
[Warning! Alpha is entering heat cycle again! Proximity to Host is accelerating the process!]
"When can I claim you?" His voice was rough.
Xin Yi's brain stuttered back online. "I—um—well..."
"Yes? Now?" He leaned closer, his nose brushing against hers.
"Soon!" she squeaked. "Very soon! But not today! Definitely not today!"
"Hmm."
He looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he kissed her again, slower this time and almost tender. Then, without warning, he scooped her up and laid down on the largest fur pile, positioning her on top of him.
"Wait, what are you—"
He nuzzled his face directly into her chest, using her breasts as pillows, and let out a deep, contented sigh.
"Hei Yan!" She tried to push him off. "You can't just—"
A soft snore interrupted her.
Xin Yi froze.
"Are you…..are you asleep?"
Another snore answered her.
He had literally just passed out, face-first in her boobs.
[Good luck, Host! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)]
"SYSTEM!"
But there was no response.
Xin Yi sighed, looking down at the massive man currently using her as a body pillow. In sleep, he looked less intimidating, almost peaceful. His long dark hair spilled across her lap, and without thinking, she reached out and started stroking it.
It was surprisingly soft.
Her fingers trailed from his hair to the back of his neck, tracing the patterns of his markings. It was nice, but as exhaustion finally caught up with her, Xin Yi found her eyes growing heavy.
"Just for a little while," she murmured.
And fell asleep.
~
Lick. Lick lick.
Something wet and rough was dragging across her cheek.
Lick lick lick.
Xin Yi's eyes fluttered open.
A tiny face with huge blue eyes stared at her from inches away. Then another appeared. And another.
Panther cubs. At least five of them, all clambering over her and Hei Yan, licking her face and hands with their rough little tongues.
"Pfft—stop—" She couldn't help it. She giggled. "Aren't you cute?"
The cubs froze when they realized she was awake. Then, as one, they scrambled off her and bolted out of the cave in a flurry of tiny paws and tails.
Xin Yi sat up, still smiling.
Hei Yan was gone. The spot where he had slept was still warm but empty.
She tried to stand and immediately winced. Her legs ached, probably from all the running and swimming yesterday.
[Good morning, Host! Time to shower, smelly girl!]
"I am NOT smelly—okay, maybe a little."
Before she could figure out where to go, several women appeared at the cave entrance.
"Oh! Alpha's female is awake!"
Xin Yi smiled uncertainly. "Um, hello?"
"Come! It is time to clean you!"
"Wait, I can—"
"No, no! The Alpha insisted we care for you properly!"
They dragged her out of the cave and toward the river again. As they walked, Xin Yi's mind wandered back to yesterday.
The Snake King. Qing Lin.
With his emerald eyes and shimmering scales and that dangerous, mesmerizing smile.
He was kind of hot, she thought, then immediately felt guilty.
The women stripped her leaf clothing off, again, and guided her into the water. Having other women bathe her naked body felt deeply uncomfortable, but they were so matter-of-fact about it that protesting seemed pointless.
They scrubbed her skin with sweet-smelling plants and even gave her something minty to clean her mouth with.
"Thank you," Xin Yi murmured, actually feeling human again.
That's when she heard the water move behind her.
She turned.
Hei Yan stood there, waist-deep in the river, his leaf loincloth tied securely around his hips. The other women immediately scattered like startled birds, giggling as they fled.
Xin Yi's face went crimson. "I—hello!"
"Did you sleep well?" His voice was warm, a small smile playing on his lips.
"I—yes! Very well, actually!"
He moved closer, and that's when Xin Yi remembered.
"I'M NAKED!" She sank down until the water covered her chest. "GO AWAY!"
"But I have already seen everything," he said reasonably.
"EH?! WHEN?!"
"When you were trying to swim yesterday." His smile widened into a smirk. "You're a very poor swimmer. I could see quite clearly."
"NOOO!" Xin Yi covered her face with her hands. "GO AWAY!"
He laughed. "No."
"GO AWAYYY!"
"I'll go on one condition."
She peeked through her fingers. "What?"
"You cook that delicious meat for me again."
"Ah... fine! FINE! Just leave!"
He looked almost disappointed. "I didn't expect you to agree so easily."
Xin Yi smiled in triumph. "Well, I did! So leave!"
Instead of leaving, he waded closer.
"What are you—"
He bent down and captured her lips in another kiss, hard, possessive, and far too brief. When he pulled away, her heart was racing.
"Until later, little female." His eyes glinted with mischief.
Then he left the water.
Xin Yi sat there, touching her lips, her whole body tingling. She squealed into her hands.