The man leaned his head against the edge of the bathtub, letting the girl lie on his chest. One hand held the suppressant outside the tub, the other steadied her to keep her from choking.
"This should hold out until Leberli arrives..."
Ruka stared at the bathroom ceiling, feeling the long-lost surge of desire beneath him.
He couldn't remember how long it had been—he had no desire for any female. At first, he felt ashamed, but after seeing all the top doctors in the Empire, he always heard pretty much the same answer.
—"Colonel Sikoses, your body functions are all fine. We really can't find the reason."
—"Colonel, we've tried every kind of treatment, we've done all we can."
—"Respected Colonel, this letter is to express our apologies. After multiple expert consultations, we are unable to offer you treatment."
Beastmen, besides their spiritual power, also awaken talents; different races have different talents.
The Sikoses Family is the purest lineage of lion males, their talent is Teleportation, and the Family Head's authority passes down not only rank, but talent as well.
Originally, Ruka was the strongest candidate for heir, but his coldness towards sex undeniably shamed the family. How could the clan accept a male who couldn't produce offspring as their head? That's why he hadn't inherited.
But today, when he smelled Qiao Suisui, his body's desire felt suddenly awakened...
Ruka looked down, gently lifting her chin.
The lighting had been too dim earlier, but now he finally saw her clearly. Her features were soft, a bit childlike, mouth small, brows and eyes exquisitely delicate. When she opened her eyes she looked like a little kitten soaked by rain, those black pupils fixed on you, making your heart melt. But right now, her brows were furrowed so tightly they formed a little mountain, tugging at his heart.
"...Still uncomfortable?"
Her answer was a tiny, delicate moan, barely audible, yet it teased Ruka's heart, stirring a curious itch.
He didn't want to take advantage—besides...
He took a deep breath, leaned his head back on the tub, forcing himself to think of unrelated things to distract himself. But the person on him had no clue how truly 'on edge' he was.
Qiao Suisui felt like a fire was burning low in her belly, ached in waves, and also itched. She tried to scratch, but couldn't reach it no matter how she stretched. She imagined herself as a lazy afternoon cat, sprawled out belly-up, hoping someone would come scratch her right then. So she wriggled around, but there was a force pressing against her back, keeping her from rolling over.
Frustrated, she started to struggle free.
She wriggled like an eel, slipping and sliding, hoping to escape that restraining force.
But the more she slid, the tighter the force held her. Undeterred, she twisted harder, then suddenly froze still.
"Don't move anymore."
The man's deep voice came, and Qiao Suisui slowly opened her eyes.
She saw herself sitting atop the man's lower abdomen, legs straddling his waist.
The corners of his eyes were flush, brows knit tightly, gaze shifting away awkwardly.
"You..." Qiao Suisui hadn't even finished asking who he was, when his hands slid under her arms and lifted her out of the water.
The rush of water echoed throughout the bathroom.
Qiao Suisui was drenched, her slip dress clinging to her, nearly invisible. Her eyes were unfocused, clearly still not fully awake.
"Are you the prince I rescued?"
Ruka didn't understand her language, but knew she was asking questions, so just grunted in response. That was enough—the two began a total chicken-and-duck conversation.
"Then let me tell you, I saved you, you must not marry another Princess, or I'll turn into foam!"
"Mm."
"You really remember, right?"
"Mm."
"Repeat it once."
"Mm."
"I knew it..."
Qiao Suisui waved her little hand, trying to grab him. Ruka sighed, let her rest against his chest again, this time supporting her butt with his hand—she was cradled like a baby.
Qiao Suisui: "You didn't give your voice to the witch, did you?"
Ruka: "Quiet, please. I don't want to do something I'll regret."
A perfectly good prince speaking bird language.
She stopped talking; with the cold water effect fading, her body temperature adjusted and the chill lost its power.
The System began prompting her every minute: [Please seize the opportunity, fertilization must happen quickly, otherwise energy will run out, and you will be destroyed in this world]
Her body burned again, and "destroyed" hung over her like the death scythe.
Qiao Suisui wrapped her arms around Ruka's neck, started breathing at his throat, then nipped at his Adam's apple, and finally mouthed and sucked his earlobe. She thought she was strong, but those slow, soft, moist touches—her warm mouth—made Ruka's fraying self-control snap like a dam.
"Stop."
Ruka's breathing grew labored as she touched him, his heart thundering so painfully he could barely stand it. The whole bathroom was instantly drenched in steamy tension.
"Can I... mark you?"
He gripped her waist with one hand, cradled her head with the other, his voice hoarse to the verge of losing all sound.
"Answer me..."
"...Can Ruka Xikoses mark you?"
...
...
Six hours later.
Inside the room, Leberli withdrew his healing hand, gave a lazy grin, teasing: "Sikoses, you're really reckless."
"Did you leave your brain at home? This is a rare, Empire-protected female, belonging to the Empire, not your property. What on earth are you thinking? You dared bring her back without reporting, and even went so far as to..."
Ruka didn't answer, habitually biting a cigarette to light, but after glancing at the bed, he crushed it in his hand instead. "So how is she now?"
"The aphrodisiac has worn off, but she has no spiritual power, even weaker than an Artificial Female. Her body is a mess." Leberli glanced toward the sleeping girl, eyes flickering, and asked him: "So, what are you going to do?"
"What?"
Leberli crossed his arms, stared, exaggerating: "Eh? Isn't someone holding their ceremony with the Princess next month? Yet you marked this little female instead—is the Interstellar Dream Girl getting boring, and you want to imitate me, become a depraved, despised scumbag?"
"I didn't mark her."
Ruka looked at that small indentation in the bed, his eyes full of tangled emotions.
"Ha." Leberli laughed like it was a joke; having frequented all sorts of nightlife, he knew these aphrodisiacs couldn't be broken by a female alone.
"That's even worse. You did everything, but didn't mark her—what, don't want to take responsibility?"
This time Ruka didn't deny it. After a long silence, he said, "I can be her guardian, provide her the best life. But beyond that, I can't give more."