His blunt question, "Are you a virgin?" landed like a physical blow, a sudden realization dawning on him that she might be innocent, unlike most unmated females.
When he attempted to pry open her thighs again, she shrieked, pushing his hand away with a force born of shock and alarm. Losing her balance, she almost toppled over like a fragile vase, bracing for an impact that never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find him still holding her, his own eyes wide with shock and a hint of confusion at her visceral reaction.
Her face burned scarlet, her vulnerability exposed and raw. "Oh…" she whispered, mortified by the scene.
He was truly shocked by her terror when he tried to part her legs, a reaction that definitively confirmed his earlier suspicion: she was incredibly innocent.
"You really are a virgin," he murmured softly, his voice imbued with awe and disbelief, "A pure, untouched female snake.".
A visible gulp in his throat, he quickly looked away, attempting to compose himself. "I… I… Said to not do that!" she exclaimed, still shaken by his sudden touch. He squeezed his eyes shut momentarily, a silent acknowledgement of his mistake.
"My apologies, I overstepped," Yves stated formally and stiffly, pulling his hand away completely. "I will refrain from touching you there, without reason.".
Rami stared at him, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her. She found herself longing for the calm, respectful worldview of her original world, a stark contrast to this untamed reality where personal space seemed a foreign concept. A surge of anxiety and uncertainty caused her to bite her lower lip.
Before she could fully process her thoughts, something rough yet gentle brushed against her lips, subtly pulling on her lower lip. His voice was soft as he whispered;
"You'll hurt yourself biting that hard.". She stared, unsure how to react to this unexpected tenderness. He seemed surprised by her sudden silence and stillness, then realized she was biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. His gaze snapped to hers, and he reached up, gently pulling her lip out from between her teeth with his thumb.
"Shh, don't bite yourself," he soothed. Rami watched him quietly, a small sense of wonder stirring within her. Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all, she thought, as he released her lip slowly, his thumb lingering near her mouth.
His gaze fixed on her plump, red lower lip, and an unfamiliar urge stirred within him. He decided to keep her still in his arms, preventing her from biting her lip again.
"Turn around," he instructed gently.
"Hm?" she responded unconsciously, turning to look at him. He shook his head slightly, pointing at his broad shoulder.
"No, turn around and face away from me. I'm going to carry you on my back. It'll be more comfortable for you, and we'll arrive faster at the village then," he explained patiently, his large hand gently guiding her head to turn away from him.
She hesitated, her cheeks warming. Slowly sliding down his arms, she blushed again as he knelt on one knee, a posture that emphasized his massive size and raw strength. Her heart fluttered at the unyielding care in his actions, a surprising tenderness from a being so primal.