The alarm was deafeningly annoying. You leaned against the cold alloy wall, steadying your breath. The air reeked of scorched Protocore.
Kitten, you're moving too slow.
Sylus's voice came from behind you, low, raspy from the fight, sounding like a statement more than a reproach. Before you could even turn your head, his large hands clamped onto your waist.
Careful, there's still an electric arc leak here.
He gave you no time to react. The next second, he scooped you up entirely, a rough and swift movement, like picking up an obstructive package. Your face crashed directly into his solid chest muscle, and through the damp black combat suit, you could feel his heart pounding fiercely in his ribcage.
Hey! Put me down! I can walk myself!
You struggled, but his arms were unmoving, like steel rods.
Are you giving me orders?
He lowered his head, his cheek pressed against your hair, the hot breath sending a wave of tingling sensation through you. The tone carried a hint of amusement, making your protest sound more like an invitation.
Don't waste time, kitten. Boring things have zero patience from me.
This isn't wasting time, this is...
This is you being too weak.
He interrupted you directly, his words so blunt they were humiliating. But his steps were astonishingly steady; held in his arms, the intense sense of control and the scent of hormones mixed together, making your heart pound as if it would burst from your chest. You dared not look up, only seeing his silver strands of hair hanging before your eyes, flickering with faint light.
The corridor lights suddenly flickered. You reflexively recoiled into his embrace. In that moment, you suddenly saw it. The red glow on his profile. His right eye, in the semi-darkness, shone with an ominous, blood-red color, the color of evolution.
That was the residue left after he used his Evol ability. That immense power and near-pathological excitement were currently being calmly suppressed within his muscular physique.
You knew clearly how dangerous and wild that red glow made him. But you knew even more clearly that the man holding you now, his heartbeat was so strong, so real, drumming like a rhythm against your ear, challenging your reason.
You raised your hand, on a whim, and lightly touched the sweat-dampened skin exposed at the collar of his combat suit.
The entire world suddenly fell into a suffocating silence. He looked down at you, his red eyes questioning, but mostly with the playful anticipation of a predator waiting for its prey to fall into the trap.
His voice was even lower, carrying a dangerous seduction.
You swallowed. You could smell his signature, Alpha scent, a mix of gunpowder and sharp cedar.
You withdrew your hand, pretending you only wanted to grab his suit to steady yourself. But the warmth and the feel of his muscle on your palm had already branded themselves into your memory.
I thought my kitten finally couldn't resist kissing me.
He flashed an arrogant, confident smile, and then continued walking with you in his arms.
You and I are the same, and I know you...
He didn't look back, just threw out the sentence dismissively. You felt your ears burning, your heartbeat still erratic. He knew. He knew everything. That realization made you feel more helpless than any threat.