Leanne woke up with a long, satisfied stretch, her body warm and cocooned in softness. An ache rippled through her muscles—her foggy brain clung to the familiar: Must've been that long hike through the woods... She sighed contentedly, feeling more rested than she had in ages, despite the soreness. Warmth surrounded her, not just from the furs she'd wrapped around herself, but something else. It felt... solid. Like being held—no, not held—more like cradled. There was a firmness to it, as though someone's arms were around her. It felt wonderful—
That's when it hit her.
Wait... someone's arms?
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Her eyes snapped open, and she immediately regretted it. Staring back at her with piercing, barely restrained irritation were two glowing blue lights. His sharp, predatory eyes locked onto hers with a look that could only be described as sheer exasperation.
"Oh no..." Leanne mumbled, her face heating up as memories of the previous night rushed back to her in a flood of embarrassment. The nightmare, her asking to sleep in his bed despite his protests, and now... now she was wrapped around him. Oh God. Her body tensed in horror as she realized something even worse.
She was drooling.
Right. Onto. Him.
Bet-Khar's lip curled in disgust, his brow furrowing as if her mere existence was an offense to him. "Hyuman," he began slowly, his voice low and dripping with barely-contained irritation, "you are leaking body fluids. Again."
Leanne wiped her mouth quickly, cheeks flaming red. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she stammered, trying to pull herself away. But her muscles protested, the soreness finally making itself known.
Of course, the bruises from the shower incident. She winced, remembering why her body ached so much.
Bet-Khar's brow ridges furrowed deeper as he glared down at her, exasperation clear in his tone. "Do you mind?" he rumbled, his voice low and steady, "Remove your limbs from me, Hyuman."
Leanne scrambled to detangle herself but found her legs uncooperative—whether it was from cramps, soreness, or sheer embarrassment, she couldn't tell. Move! Please! she begged silently, trying to shift away from his massive form, all while feeling his eyes boring into her.
His gaze remained firmly locked on her, his face the epitome of disgusted disbelief. "Have you no shame, Hyuman? First, you ask to share my bed, then you leak mouth fluids on me, and now you have the audacity to—"
Leanne groaned, cutting him off. Rubbing her sore muscles, she shot him a sidelong glance. He's going to kill me if I don't find a way out of this. Sensing an opportunity to turn his insult around, she grimaced but managed a smirk.
"You called me unworthy prey last night, huh? Well, joke's on you, buddy. You're stuck with the 'unworthy prize.'"
Oh God, why am I doing this? she thought, but the words had already left her mouth.
