He could feel her body pressed against his, her heat seeping into his skin, igniting a fire that threatened to consume him. He wanted to push her away, to regain control, but he found himself powerless to resist.
The kiss deepened, and he found himself kissing her back, his own desires rising to the surface, threatening to overwhelm him. The bulge in his pants was getting harder, a painful reminder of his own arousal, when suddenly Stella began rubbing her wet pussy against his bulge. That almost snapped his patience, pushing him to the brink of claiming her, again and again, until they were both breathless and sated.
He stared at Stella, her eyes glazed with desire, her lips swollen from their kiss. He was still hesitating, struggling with the conflicting desires warring within his heart. He knew that even if he did something now, Stella wouldn't refuse. She would even gladly do it with him, succumbing to the overwhelming pull of their bond. He also knew that Stella couldn't blame him afterwards. All this was the mutual influence of their mate bond, the irresistible force that drew them together.
But he couldn't do it.
He couldn't take advantage of her vulnerability, couldn't force her to do something she might regret later. He had to be stronger than his instincts, stronger than the bond that threatened to consume them both. He had to protect her, even from himself.
With a surge of willpower, he suddenly came back to his senses. He pushed Stella away from himself, breaking the kiss and pinning both her hands above her head. His grip was firm but gentle as he grabbed the suppressor from the floor, his movements swift and decisive, and injected it into her arm.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
After Lukas injected the suppressor, I finally felt the chaotic heat within me begin to calm down. He wrapped my body in a soft blanket, and we lay there together, his arms encircling me protectively. "Have you finally calmed down now?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.
"Yes," I replied softly, my face still a little red from the intensity of our earlier encounter.
"If I had aroused you a bit more, you would have immediately gone into heat," he explained, his fingers gently caressing my hair, a tender gesture that made my heart flutter.
His words reminded me of the absurd things I had just done, and I buried my face deeper into his chest, not wanting to meet his gaze. The embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave, and I felt vulnerable, exposed.
"Do you need me to call your boss?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?" I replied, confusion lacing my voice.
"Your current physical condition is not suitable for going to work for the time being. I'm not at ease. Go explain things tomorrow and ask for leave. I'll be watching you," he said, his tone firm yet caring.
"Aren't you busy lately?" I asked softly.
"I am busy, but your health is more important than my work right now. Whether you're trying to get through with a suppressor or—" he paused, swallowing hard, "I'll be there."
His words left me stunned. I looked up at him, surprised. "I thought you preferred me to use a suppressor?" I murmured, uncertainty tinging my voice.
"Why do you think so?" he asked, his tone curious.
I lifted my head and looked at him hesitantly. "That's because you… didn't you decide to have the doctor prepare a special suppressor for me?" I asked softly, searching his face.
He paused, considering my words. "That's because I've been busy with work, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to come back in time," he admitted, a hint of concern in his eyes. Then a sudden realization hit him. "Wait… don't tell me you've misunderstood me?"
Blushing, I quickly hid my face again. "No—I…"
He sighed softly, and I could sense the weight of his feelings. "That explains why you've been avoiding me lately," he said gently, his voice tinged with a mixture of understanding and longing.
I chose to ignore his observation, shifting the conversation. "Why did you come back so early?"
"I don't know either," he admitted, his brow furrowing in thought. "I suddenly felt the urge to come back and check on you. I remembered the doctor reminding me to pay attention to your situation at any time recently. I didn't expect that you—" He stopped when he noticed I had fallen silent.
"Of course, I don't want you to use a suppressor in the first place but considering how you've been avoiding me, I decided for you instead of talking it out with you. I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with regret.
I gulped, feeling a knot form in my stomach. It wasn't his fault; it was mine. He must have thought about all the times I had refused him, all the moments I had pushed him away.
"I should be the one saying sorry. Don't apologize when it isn't your fault. I'm sorry," I said softly, gazing into his eyes.
I already knew how to manage my heat cycle, but due to the misunderstanding about the suppressor, I never made up my mind or confided in Lukas about it. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I hope he'll stop doing such hurtful things that hurt him—things he might believe are for my own good. I want to take care of myself, but I also want to do something for him in return. At the very least, I don't want to see him living in the haze of his past anymore.
"Starting tomorrow, I won't be using a suppressor," I said firmly.
He started to speak, "What—" but I cut him off.
"I will try to accept you," I continued quietly, then paused for a moment. "But I can't get pregnant."
Because I don't want to bring a child into this world if we don't truly love each other.
"Alright," he nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "Get some sleep since you'll be needing it for tomorrow."
"Goodnight," I replied, feeling the warmth of his presence envelop me as he lulled me into a sense of safety.
"Goodnight, Stella," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm as I drifted into sleep.
As I closed my eyes, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
The next day, Lukas woke up early and checked the time—it was already 7 A.M. This was the first time he had woken up late; usually, he was up and out the door by 4 A.M. sharp. He glanced to his side and saw Stella still sleeping peacefully, her face serene and relaxed. She was probably the reason he had overslept, and he couldn't help but smile at the thought.
As he contemplated getting up to make breakfast for them, Stella hugged him tighter, pulling him back into the warmth of her embrace. He chuckled softly, feeling a rush of affection for her.
Seeing that she was still asleep, he decided to take care of her work situation. He reached for his phone, locating the number he had saved for her workplace, and dialed it.
The other line picked up after the first ring. "Mister Monteverde! Why did you call so early?" the voice on the other end exclaimed, sounding surprised.
"Regarding Stella Marquez, she won't be attending work today," he said, keeping his tone professional.
"Don't worry about it, Mister Monteverde! She can leave and enter work anytime she wants!" the person replied cheerfully.
"Thank you," he said, relief washing over him.
"No worries, Mister Monteverde!" the person said before ending the call.
Lukas set his phone down and looked at Stella again, his heart swelling with affection. He carefully removed the strands of hair that were covering her face, tucking them behind her ear. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she nestled deeper into the blankets.
He couldn't help but admire her, the way the morning light danced across her features, illuminating the gentle curve of her smile. In that moment, he felt a profound sense of gratitude for having her in his life.
Stella worked at a small-scale company, and when Lukas had offered her a position at one of his companies, she had firmly refused. "I don't want to work at any of your companies," she had said, her voice resolute. "It wouldn't be fair to others who are struggling to get a job there, and I don't think I'm qualified enough."
Back then, he had wanted to argue that she was more than qualified, her credentials impressive and her work ethic unmatched. But he had let the topic go, respecting her decision even if it puzzled him. He admired her integrity, but he also wished she could see her own worth.
With those thoughts lingering in his mind, he finally stood up to go make pancakes. The smell of batter sizzling on the griddle filled the kitchen, and he felt a sense of satisfaction as he flipped the pancakes, imagining Stella's delighted expression when she tasted them.
After a few minutes, he carried a plate of golden-brown pancakes and a jar of honey back to the bedroom. He placed the plate on the bedside table, careful not to make a sound that would wake her.